Purchase Street Closes, Becomes Pedestrian Mall

The Rye Department of Public Works was out in force Tuesday morning shutting down Purchase Street in downtown Rye.

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.

If you think shutting down a place like Purchase Street is easy, it is not. The Rye DPW work included placing barricades, street/sidewalk cleaning, pruning and mulching of trees, changing signage and traffic lights and more.

See the previously announced map and plan. Don’t forget you’ll need to feed the meter until 9pm and call ahead for reservations at your favorite restaurant (walk-ins are not permitted).

Wash your hands, stay six feet away and go make a reservation for dinner.