By Phil Corso
Bell Boulevard will be shut down the last Sunday of this month for Bayside’s first weekend walk event, the Bayside Village Business Improvement District said.
Lyle Sclair, the BID’s executive director, rolled out the event at his group’s annual meeting earlier this summer. He worked closely with the city Department of Transportation over the past year in planning the event to bring more foot traffic and excitement to the bustling business district.
Sections of Bell Boulevard will be closed down to vehicles Sept. 29 so merchants along the strip can bring their business to the streets, Sclair said. The day marks a departure from the BID’s more common sidewalk sales as it only includes business owners involved with the BID.
“This is our chance to showcase what Bell has to offer,” Sclair told the BID’s annual meeting in Bayside.
Shops will be free to set up along the sidewalks of Bell to offer anything from special sales and contests to demonstrations and shows, the BID said. Restaurants will also offer outdoor café options for hungry shoppers without having to acquire additional permits or fees, Sclair said.
BID Chairman Dominick Bruccoleri said he and Sclair have made it a top priority of theirs to keep the Bell Boulevard merchants involved in future programs and both saw the weekend walk event as another feather in their cap since joining the BID as executives last year. The two have already spearheaded several Bayside programs and public events, including arts and crafts fairs, student internships at nearby schools and more.
The city’s official Weekend Walk program was launched through the DOT and is available for business districts throughout the five boroughs, the department said. It was included in Mayor Bloomberg’s World Class Streets initiative to promote new ways to use public spaces throughout the five boroughs.
The city said a total of 23 sites were scheduled throughout the 2013 season, which runs from May through October.
The DOT listed the BID as one of several community partners working to make the Weekend Walk program more robust in the borough and throughout the city, joining with the Astoria Park Alliance, Sunnyside Shines BID and other city groups.
Weekend Walks have already been held throughout the city during the last five years, including spots in Astoria and Sunnyside, the DOT said.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
