The design of Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square has changed several times since the borough’s founding in 1786, and town leaders are exploring another possible makeover.
During their workshop on Monday, council heard a proposal from borough staff, contractors, and community partners that would reduce the amount of parking spaces on the square and make it more pedestrian-friendly. Borough Manager Charles Gable stressed that the ideas were concepts only and that much discussion amongst leaders and the public would occur before a proposal is advanced, if ever.
The proposed Lincoln Square renovation could be part of the Baltimore Street Revitalization Plan, a concept that dates back to 2016. Gettysburg Borough and Main Street Gettysburg, with the support of community partners, have been applying for federal grants to support the project.
The currently $17.8 million proposal is a multi-faceted project that includes all of Baltimore Street and Lincoln Square. It includes infrastructure work, street lighting, landscaping, storm drainage and stormwater management, traffic calming methods, an entrance gateway to the borough, traffic signal at Lefever and South Streets, facilities for bicycle traffic, barricades, and a possible public restroom.
Previous iterations of the plan did not include Lincoln Square or infrastructure work but Gable believes a more comprehensive plan would be more attractive to grantors. Council agreed that the infrastructure work was crucial.
“What we are doing is not for us. What we are doing is building the Gettysburg for the next generation and the generation that follows them,” Gable said.
The borough has already received a $800,000 grant for the project’s design.
Square Options
Council members agreed to continue discussing the proposal to redesign Lincoln Square. They will hold a town hall meeting soon, Gable said so that the public can share thoughts.
One possibility, Gable said, is to increase the sidewalk space and reduce the traffic area to encourage more public gatherings. This concept could also reduce parking spaces in an effort to drive more vehicles to the Racehorse Alley Parking Garage.
Gable noted walking from the garage to Lincoln Square is less of a distance than parking in the Walmart parking lot and walking through the store. Resident Marci Bievenour objected to Gable’s claim during the public comment portion of the meeting. She said mobility issues require her to park close to the Walmart door and use a cart to help her get around the store. If parking is eliminated on Lincoln Square, Bievenour said she would never be able to visit those businesses again.
Gable confirmed that PennDOT will not allow the borough to reduce the traffic lanes to a size that would prevent tractor-trailers from going through the square.
Parking Coupons
Council is also studying a proposal to sell parking coupons to local businesses. Teresa Trussell, PaybyPhone director of client success, said businesses can buy digital coupons for discounted parking and give them to patrons.
The coupons would be distributed by a QR Code or code that changes constantly to prevent abuse. The coupon could only be applied to an active parking session.
When asked for input, business owners in the audience did not express support for the coupons. Main Street Gettysburg President/CEO Jill Sellers said she would poll her organization’s membership.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.
If any of the planned improvements turn out like the intersection of Baltimore street and Steinwehr Ave., the results will NOT be improvements at all. I can not imagine how anyone can call that intersection an improvements. Watching large vehicles like Motor Homes and Tour Buses trying to make the turn from Steinwehr Ave. to south on Baltimore St. or vise versa is comical. And also watching vehicles stopped half way into the intersection because of the confusing traffic lights is dangerous. Also the sidewalk bump out at the Dobbin House is useless. The maneuver for large vehicles around this… Read more »
Absolutely more ridiculous ideas from Gable and Main Street. The idea of using red pavers for all the sidewalks on Baltimore Street is absolutely horrible. Not only does it look awful but the maintenance would be horrendous and very unfriendly for most people, especially the elderly and handicapped. Baltimore Street may need infrastructure improvements like new sidewalks but paving them like they did on Steinwehr will make Baltimore Street look like Main Street Disney World! Google images of Main Street Disney World and you will see what they are proposing for Baltimore Street. It is absolutely horrible. Gettysburg should never… Read more »
My husband is a disabled veteran and needs to park in a handicap parking space. He can’t walk very far so parking down the street from the square would be difficult.
More foolishness from Gable and the Council. There are a lot of businesses that depend on parking. They pay outrageous taxes and depend on parking so their customers have access for quick shopping. Elections will hopefully change out many council members and replace them with business owners that have common sense. And Gable needs to go. Long past due!
The town square will never be very pedestrian friendly until a Route 30 bypass is constructed. Also, please learn from Little Round Top where they reduced parking spaces and now have to have rangers keep people from parking in the bus zones. People in cars are like water or electricity, always seeking the path of least resistance. They will fill up the closest spaces and then drive around the block three times hoping something closer opens up before paying to park in a garage 600 feet away from the square.
build a bypass around Gettysburg before making the square more pedestrian friendly. currently traffic is required through the square and current parking does not inhibit traffic or pedestrian s.