FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Outdoor Dining “Pedlet” Installed in Downtown Morgantown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - On Nov. 5, the City of Morgantown began its pilot program for outdoor seating for businesses downtown.

These temporary spaces, called?pedlets, will allow people to dine on existing?sidewalks?while?pedestrians are?diverted?around the dining area. The?pedestrian?area?is created by?converting parking spaces into safe zones where people can walk.?The design for the?pedlet?was provided by The Mills Group.?

“People like to be outside, especially now because of COVID. Plus, most people work inside all day,” said Barbara Watkins, executive director of Main Street Morgantown. “Pedlets give them the chance to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends, while also bringing an economic boost for downtown.”

The first?pedlet?was?installed at Gibbie’s Pub & Eatery located on High Street.?It?features a dining space, extended sidewalk, and planter boxes?and?is intended to be in place until?the first?snowfall.?The?pedlets?were constructed later?than?originally?intended?primarily?due to?supply chain disruptions which resulted in longer than normal delays in receiving materials.

“After seeing the success of the?program?we had last year for?pedlets, we decided to try it again. They are a great addition to the city and a lot of hard work went into this project,” said Damien Davis,?director of Engineering & Public Works. “We’re hoping to have more?pedlets?in place next year starting in the spring!”

A full rollout of the program is being planned and more information on how businesses can apply for a?pedlet?will be available soon. The?pedlet?pilot?project?is?a collaborative effort between the City of Morgantown, the?Morgantown?Parking Authority, Main Street Morgantown and The Mills Group. Total costs of the project are still being finalized, but funding for the project comes from the City of Morgantown’s Capital Escrow fund.

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