What do you want to see at Summers on Allen? Community input sought for State College project
“Summers On Allen,” which will convert the 100 block of South Allen Street to a pedestrian plaza this summer, is seeking community input for programming ideas this month.
Centre Foundation and Groznik PR, the two organizations heading the project, will host community brainstorm sessions on Saturday and Feb. 18. They hope to encourage “innovative and creative use” of the plaza, according to a press release.
“We want to hear directly from the community about what would bring them downtown this summer,” said Brad Groznik, one of the project leaders, in a release. “We’re looking for fun ideas and people who can help make them happen.”
Groznik added in an email that the Summers On Allen team has connected with many local organizations and companies to partner with this summer, including Centre Region Parks and Recreation, KCF Technologies and Bike Happy Valley.
Summers On Allen, a project sponsored by the Knight Foundation, will close the 100 block of Allen Street to vehicle traffic from May 11 to July 3, transforming it with outdoor seating, landscaping, a kids’ play area, a small performance stage and more. In conjunction with the Downtown State College Improvement District, the Summers On Allen team has already planned events and programming almost every weekend during the street closure.
The project has also formed an advisory committee, which met last week for the first time and includes business leaders, municipal workers, Penn State employees, State College Area School District employees and students, members of the faith community and arts community members.
The first brainstorm is Saturday at 10 a.m. at New Leaf Initiative in the State College Municipal Building at 243 S. Allen St. The second meeting is Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at 3 Dots Downtown, 137 E. Beaver Ave.
Community members who wish to attend the brainstorm sessions are asked to RSVP at summersonallen.com/brainstorm. Those who are not able to attend a brainstorm may send ideas to summersonallen@gmail.com.
This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 1:20 PM with the headline "What do you want to see at Summers on Allen? Community input sought for State College project."
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