Westfield Approves Contract For 'Open Quimby' Pedestrian Plaza

WESTFIELD, NJ - Town council passed a resolution for the redesign of Quimby Street at its meeting on Aug. 12.

This new "streetscape" concept ordinance, presented by the Finance Policy Committee, includes plans for the Open Quimby pedestrian plaza that was first put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic to help boost businesses in the area.

Concerns surrounding parking layouts and stone barricades required to keep visitors safe have delayed the construction for the last few years. A recently issued Requisition For Proposal for the project has reignited the progress.

"The idea is we are going to create a permanent one-way with a flexible street that can be easily opened and closed with electric bollards on either end. And it can restore parking full-time when the street isn’t closed for events full-time," said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle at a June 24 Council meeting.

Street design studio and engineering firm "Arterial LLC" was awarded the contract for the project. A Westfield committee made up of town leaders unanimously chose Arterial from a group of nine different businesses that submitted proposals. The contract emphasizes that the budget is not to exceed the $179,250 that was approved as part of this year's budget. The Town of Westfield, Downtown Westfield Corporation and Quimby Street area stakeholders will all be involved in the design process.

While no exact completion date has been announced, Mayor Shelley has given some light on this in the past, saying "Hopefully, it will be done in time for next summer. We’ll be enjoying a beautiful festival street on Quimby Street, which will be great."