<img src="https://static.themebuilder.aws.arc.pub/910mediagroup/1674495331060.png" alt="9&10 Logo" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="650" height="266"/><figcaption><p class="ImageMetadata__MetadataParagraph-sc-1gn0vty-0 fPdgHV image-metadata"><span class="title">7CD4C4C3-4F83-4DA9-9ECD-60991F6CB92E... </span><span> </span>(9and10news Site Staff)</p></figcaption></figure><div id="article-html-block-YPVZLF4DFFMUDMRFG5UZM5KM44"><div class="html__StyledDiv-sc-18wgwvq-0 gKMRUh block-margin-bottom"><div> <p>After a long springtime hiatus, Traverse City’s front street is buzzing.</p> <p>And businesses are hoping for a strong summer season.</p> <p>“It’s kinda sad to think that all of these shops have been closed. I mean Traverse City really lives on the people coming in and out. And without that… I’m sure it’s been really hard,” said tourist Jonathon Vota.</p> <p>The Downtown Development Authority wanted to make Front Street a safer place for everyone.</p> <p>Staring Monday, Front Street will be closed to traffic between Union and Park Street.</p> <p>Allowing for ample social distancing on the pedestrian-only street</p> <p>“Honestly it’s a good idea. For so many months people have been inside. We don’t need to be driving our cars. We need to be out in the air,” said Vota.</p> <p>Shoppers, diners, and walkers will be able to enjoy everything downtown has to offer and they’ll be able to feel a little more secure doing it.</p> <p>“The trees. The water. The shops. The breweries. There’s so much. So if I can get away I can,” said Vota.</p> <p>Another tourist, Joshua Lacy says, “It just seems kind of alive. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like when these stores were closed.”</p> <p>Others say the pedestrian-only area will feel calmer.</p> <p>Lacy says, “No cars on parts of Front Street? I mean I wouldn’t complain about that. I feel like it’s would be kind of relaxing.”</p> <p>These changes will last through Labor Day.</p> <p><iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTraverseCityDDA%2Fposts%2F2155521181258575&width=500" width="500" height="770" frameborder="0" scrolling="no">
