MAP & PLAN: Purchase Street Closure Starts Tuesday, June 23rd

The downtown section of Rye’s Purchase Street and Second Street (the street between Purdy and the train station) will be closed starting this Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

City Council authorized the closure as a way to facilitate outdoor dining and local retail businesses who have struggled during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Tuesday is the scheduled start of the “Phase Three” re-opening.

Payment for parking will be required from 9am until 9pm and outdoor dining will be allowed until 10pm. The closure is expected to last until Sunday, July 19th.

Wear masks, wash your hands and stay six feet apart!

The full notice from the city is below. Here is a map showing the closure:

Official notice:

City of Rye
2020 Purchase and Second Street Pedestrian Malls

Starting June 23, 2020, the Rye City Council has authorized closing streets to vehicular traffic in the Central Business District in order to provide additional outdoor area for dining and retail establishments. The City’s plan is to create a pedestrian mall on Purchase Street and Second Street as a strategy to help businesses and provide customers with new opportunities to dine and shop consistent with New York State reopening guidelines.

The plan highlights include:

• Starting June 23 the City will begin closing a portion of Second Street and Purchase Street at the Boston Post Road, Locust Avenue, Smith Street, Elm Place, West Purdy and Purdy Avenue intersections (see map).
• Within the pedestrian only zones resturants and retailers can use designated portions of City streets and sidewalks for outdoor dining and retail sales.
• The City will maintain an area of at least 15 feet in width that will be used for a pedestrian walkway and emergency access.
• Traffic flow in the car parks on the west side of Purchase Street will switch direction.
• The City Council authorized the closure until July 19, but will consider extending the closure plan at it’s July 15 meeting.
• Payment for parking will be required between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM in the City’s Carparks.
• Outdoor dining will be allowed until 10:00 PM.