ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando is set to reopen Orange Avenue during weekend evenings in downtown as part of the city’s plan to improve safety.
Starting Saturday evening, Orange Avenue, Central Boulevard and Pine Street will stay open to “create a more vibrant, and safe downtown,” according to a news release.
For more than a decade, those streets in downtown have been shut down in the evening as people head out to the bars and clubs.
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The change is just one of many the city of Orlando has made after the deadly Halloween shooting that killed two and injured seven more.
They started in November when the city blocked off the sidewalks of Orange Avenue and allow traffic to flow – then they expand it to more roadways in the downtown area last month.
“I think keeping people on the sidewalks keep it a little less crowded,” said Orlando resident Jared Bessellieu. ”I guess congestion should help with safety so there’s now huge crowds of people out in the streets.”
According to a news release from city officials, the changes were made in part to eliminate the “street party atmosphere.”
Officials said they are also working on adding more code enforcement officers downtown as well as improving the lighting throughout downtown.
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