PITTSBURGH — It’s a strategy to improve safety in the South Side that’s never been done before. The South Side Street Fest kicks off next weekend, and Thursday night, community members got a look at the plan.
Starting June 20, the South Side will begin its “Street Fest.” From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
East Carson Street will shut down between 12th and 18th streets every Friday and Saturday night this summer.
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Peter Margittai is the President of the South Side Chamber of Commerce, which is supporting the event.
“It’s really about coming to a safe environment, a fun environment. Taking the most problematic blocks in the South Side and turning them into the safest blocks in the city,” Margittai said.
He says bar and restaurant owners first came up with the idea a year ago.
“I’ve been living here for 30 years and I get it there’s been lots of plans and things have been tried and some have been more successful than others, so I completely understand the trepidation, but this has been really well thought out,” Margittai said.
Thursday night, details of the South Side Street Fest were unveiled to the community at Enclave.
“I think it’s going to cause a safety issue outside the zone,” said Rebecca Kichta Miller.
Rebecca Kichta Miller, a longtime South Side resident, was at that meeting where organizers detailed safety plans that include private security in addition to Pittsburgh’s South Side Entertainment Patrol. Kichta Miller says she’s worried about what could happen outside of the designated street fest zone.
“From 18th Street to South Side works, I think, is going to be a nightmare because they’re going to be roaming there,” Miller said.
Margittai says the private security is being paid through a $125,000 grant from the state of Pennsylvania, allowing Pittsburgh Police officers to focus elsewhere in the South Side.
“There’s going to be private security as well as the entertainment patrol, so with that added security, really the entertainment patrol is really going to be able to go deeper into the neighborhood and make sure that everything is safe and buttoned down,” Margittai said.
There will be parking restrictions and detours that some longtime South Side residents say they expect to be a huge headache every weekend.
“I’m not coming home after 10 o’clock and having to skirt through cause they’re going to have all the side streets blocked off, “ Margittai said.
If you’re a South Side business that isn’t inside the footprint, you are welcome to set up a tent inside it for no cost. You just have to submit an application.
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