Enhancing Safety: Orlando Reopens Downtown Streets for the Community

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando is set to reopen Orange Avenue during weekend evenings in downtown as part of the city’s plan to improve safety.

Beginning on Saturday evening, Orange Avenue, Central Boulevard, and Pine Street will remain accessible to the public in an effort to “enhance the liveliness and safety of downtown,” as stated in a press release.

For more than a decade, those streets in downtown have been shut down in the evening as people head out to the bars and clubs.

The change is just one of many the city of Orlando has made after the deadly Halloween shooting that killed two and injured seven more.

This initiative was launched in November with the closure of the sidewalks on Orange Avenue to allow smoother traffic flow, which was eventually extended to encompass additional streets in the downtown vicinity last month.

Orlando local Jared Bessellieu commented, “I believe directing pedestrians to the sidewalks helps reduce overcrowding. Having less congestion should contribute to a safer environment by preventing large gatherings of people on the streets.”

According to a news release from city officials, the changes were made in part to eliminate the “street party atmosphere.”

Officials said they are also working on adding more code enforcement officers downtown as well as improving the lighting throughout downtown.