Ellsworth To Close Franklin Street Extension For Green Space

Looks like folks will have a new area of the City to take a break from shopping, grab a bite to eat, and to just chill out.

After some speculation, the City of Ellsworth informed everyone today via Facebook and on the City's website that the lower Franklin Street extension, the small strip of roadway between the J&B Atlantic building and Elizabeth's Fine Goods, will be closed to traffic between this coming Monday, May 24th, and Tuesday, September 7th.

Yes, this is the same area where the very popular Taste of Ellsworth events took place.

The area has the potential to really enhance the downtown experience for locals and visitors alike, as it's set right in the middle of Main Street with Ellsworth City Hall as a backdrop.

The notice from the City of Ellsworth said that the closure of the small strip of Franklin Street may be extended even further than September 7th.

“People really want a community gathering space,” Heart of Ellsworth Executive Director Cara Romano recently told the Ellsworth American.

City planners and others envision an area at some point that resembles what was developed for the Taste of Ellsworth events that ran for three years until 2019.  Tables and chairs sat underneath a big tented area with landscaping such as trees and flower pots that were brought in to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

While organizers admit that everything is still developing and that a green space that resembles a park is still down the road, this is fabulous news for Ellsworth's downtown area.