Update: Road closures planned downtown for ribbon-cutting event
Update posted June 25:
Event includes ribbon cutting, music, food and shuttle service
– The City of Atascadero will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and downtown block party on June 27 to mark the completion of the El Camino Real Downtown Safety and Parking Enhancement Project. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at The Plaza on El Camino Real, across from Sunken Gardens, with city council members, city staff, community partners, and local businesses attending the formal reception. The block party will follow the ceremony and continue until 9 p.m., covering the downtown area.
Road closures will begin at 3:30 p.m., with hard closures in place at 4 p.m. and reopening at 9 p.m. Closed roads will include El Camino Real from East Mall to Traffic Way, West Mall from Palma Avenue to El Camino Real, Entrada from Palma Avenue to El Camino Real, and the alley between Entrada and West Mall. A detour for El Camino Real will be provided, with through traffic rerouted around downtown from Traffic Way or East Mall to Lewis Avenue or Capistrano.
SLO Safe Ride will provide shuttle service from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Shuttles will run every 45 minutes starting at 4 p.m. at Springhill Suites by Marriott, Hilton Home 2 Suites, Fairfield Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. The downtown pick-up and drop-off location will be on Traffic Way next to The Carlton starting at 4:45 p.m. Shuttle service will also be available on Saturday to the Tin City Block Party in Templeton. The Atascadero Tourism Business Improvement District is sponsoring the shuttle service. For more information, visit visittascadero.com/events.
Original article posted June 11:City to host ribbon-cutting for downtown safety and parking enhancement project
– The city of Atascadero will host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the El Camino Real Downtown Safety and Parking Enhancement Project on Friday, June 27 at 5 p.m.
The ceremony will begin at The Plaza on El Camino Real, across from Sunken Gardens, followed by a downtown block party for the community. City council members, staff, government partners and downtown businesses will attend the event.
Representatives from the offices of Senator Laird, Congressman Panetta and the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments will join the ceremony. These offices helped make the project possible through grants and advocacy.
The block party will feature a disco ball scavenger hunt, local dance performances by 805 Movement and Performance Arts, music from Traffic Records DJs, a live radio broadcast from KJUG, exclusive interviews with What’s Up North County, and extended hours at shops and restaurants. Additional surprises are planned for the evening.
“This event marks a historic milestone for our enhanced downtown,” said Atascadero Mayor Charles Bourbeau. “Increased safety, over 100 additional free parking spaces, improved infrastructure, and a fresh new look and energy that matches the momentum we’re experiencing in Atascadero. We hope our entire community AND our neighbors will join us in celebrating and patronizing our businesses and community!”
The project enhanced a 0.6-mile stretch of the downtown corridor to strengthen public safety, boost economic vitality, expand parking and create a more welcoming downtown. The community-driven project was shaped by input from residents, businesses and key stakeholders over several years.
Information about the construction project is available at atascadero.org/ECRproject. Details about the block party can be found at atascadero.com/events.
