Update#3 Main Street Town Square has been approved!

The Main Street Town Square project and layout have been approved unanimously by Council on Tuesday, May 23rd! Here are the details of the project:

Duration of the project

The Main Street Town Square will be launched on Friday, June 23. 2023. It will end after Labour Day weekend on Tuesday, September 5 resulting in an 11-week Town Square Pilot Project.

Layout of Main Street Town Square

Main Street will be closed between Front Street and Second Avenue using a mix of precast concrete barriers and flexible delineator posts. This area of Main Street will continue to be used by Parks’ watering truck and City garbage trucks but timed to avoid high usage of the area by the public.

The alleyways will be closed to the public and reserved for commercial waste collection and delivery trucks driving northbound from Elliott to Steele Street. Special signage will be installed to advise drivers to be very cautious in the pedestrian area when crossing Main Street. A 6-metre fire lane will remain free of obstacles in the middle of the street to allow emergency vehicles to access the area. Four accessible parking spaces on the closed portion of Main Street will be moved temporarily - two to Second Avenue, and two to Front Street, all adjacent to Main Street.

Public Washrooms

“Porta-potties” will be proposed for public use along with hand washing facilities. Locations of nearby public washrooms will be posted at the event.

Food Trucks

The Town Square provides two locations for food trucks outside of each of the banks. Vendors will rotate out of these spots on a bi-weekly basis.

Pop-up vendors market

Administration will launch a call for pop-up vendors in the designated area. The schedule will be defined with interested vendors, whether one afternoon a week or a full-time market.

Patio space, public seating, and planters

Once Main Street is closed, businesses will have the ability to apply for extended patios for the duration of the project, within the defined layout, and within the Yukon Liquor Corporation and Heath and Social Services regulations if they are licensed.

Public seating will be set up in different areas of the pedestrian street using a combination of benches and picnic tables.

The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce will provide additional planters, and the Anti-Poverty Coalition will have a planter with vegetables to promote growing food. Additional planters will be purchased to beautify the area.

Artistic component

A stage will be set up in front of the Edgewater Hotel, by the alleyway, where bands will be programmed every Friday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, each playing two sets. An NGO will administer, program and produce the concerts. If feasible, additional concerts will be programmed for the launch and closing of Main Street Town Square. During the rest of the week, buskers will be allowed in the area, respecting certain rules (such as confirming with the City when and where they want to play, limitation on the level of amplification, and no later than 6 pm to respect hotel guests nearby). Other cultural organizations have confirmed their support for the concerts.

A large artwork will be painted in the pedestrian street and the cement barriers surrounding the pedestrian area by artists and youth.

We have one month to get ready for the Town Square, stay tuned for more news!