Outdoor Seating Accommodations Started

Urbana is entering into Restore Illinois Phase 4 on June 26, 2020!

Therefore, the needs of our downtown Urbana businesses are changing as we move through the stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Restore Illinois plan phases. As a City, we absolutely must be responsive to those needs and assess the use of public space to strike a balance among the different demands from various users of that public space.

Starting today, (6/26), the east half of the public parking Lot 1 at Water Street and Race Street is closed to traffic to allow for outdoor seating. However, the west half of lot 1 will still be available for parking. Remember when using Lot 1, all vehicles should enter the lot from Water Street, and exit through Goose Alley. Until further notice, Goose Alley will become a one-way alley with vehicles to move only east-bound. Please watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles when exiting onto Broadway Avenue.

Further, businesses with parking accessed from Goose Alley should direct their staff and patrons to enter Goose Alley from the Lot 1 entrance on Water Street and to exit Goose Alley onto Broadway Avenue.

Please, see the attached map for other parking locations in the area. We encourage employees and others with long-term parking needs to use the convenience and accessibility of the parking garage and the meters at the Civic Center to free street and lot 1 spaces for use by customers.

The City of Urbana will continue to evaluate the situation to balance providing parking and outdoor seating.  We so appreciate your support to our Urbana businesses throughout the pandemic, and we look forward to further patronage to those businesses that truly enhance the vibrancy of Urbana. 

If you have questions, please contact Andrea Ruedi, City of Urbana Senior Advisor for Integrated Strategy Development at alruedi@urbanaillinois.us.