To the editor,

I appreciate the Village of Ellsworth’s desire to improve walkability and invest in the East End. A vibrant, people-friendly Broadway Street is something many of us support. However, the current redesign proposal raises serious concerns that deserve public discussion.

According to the plans, angle parking along Broadway would be eliminated, resulting in the loss of roughly 50% of existing parking in favor of wider sidewalks. This may work well during large, one-day events like the Cheese Curd Festival. But what about the other 363 days of the year?

Broadway Street s not just an event space – it is a working business district. Local shops, restaurants and service providers rely on convenient parking for daily customers, delivery vehicles, seniors, families and people with limited mobility. Removing so much parking risks making the area less accessible, not more.

A wider sidewalk has value, but only if it serves real, everyday foot traffic. On most days, Broadway does not see festival-level pedestrian volume. Empty sidewalk space paired with fewer customers able to stop, park and shop could unintentionally hurt the very businesses that give East Ellsworth its character.

Good urban design should balance walkability with accessibility. It should support small businesses year-round, not just during special events. There are creative alternatives worth exploring: maintaining some angle parking, adding seasonable adjustments or piloting temporary changes before making permanent ones.

I urge city leaders to slow down, listen to business owners and residents and reconsider a plan that appears to prioritize occasional events over everyday economic vitality. Broadway Avenue deserves a solution that works all year long.

Bradley Sonnentag

Owner of 242 and 234 N. Broadway Ave.

East Ellsworth