City of Huntingburg trial running Bollard Removal

Huntingburg- The City of Huntingburg could be making changes to its 4th Street. 

At the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Thursday morning, Mayor Steve Schwinghammer proposed a trial program that would remove some of the black bollards on Huntingburg’s 4th Street. Mayor Schwinghammer says the proposal came to light after receiving multiple concerns from citizens about the bollards and the parking spaces. 

“It seems as though people are afraid they will hit the poles,” said Schwinghammer, “They didn’t get quite all the way into the parking spaces, so they’re parking half way out in the street sometimes at least with two wheels.”

Not all of the bollards would be removed in the trial program. In a statement on Facebook, the Mayor said, “Some bollards would remain in place for safety reasons.”

Not only would this aid in parking, but also in traffic flow. Schwinghammer said he is hopeful people will now travel the designated sides of the road and not over the metal drains in the middle. 

Designated parking spaces and loading/unloading zones will remain unaffected. Exactly which bollards would be removed was not specified, but the Schwinghammer said the ones with the most complaints will be removed if approved.

The following was posted on the Huntingburg City Facebook Page:

Here is a public announcement made by Mayor Schwinghamer at the Board of Public Works & Safety meeting this morning regarding the bollards on 4th Street: 

"The City of Huntingburg is considering a trial program to remove the black bollards on 4th Street. This is one of the most common complaints I hear about our historic downtown. The trial program is being considered after numerous conversations with business owners, local residents, visitors, and our Board of Public Works & Safety members. 

Initially, only a select few that seem to cause a majority of the issues will be removed. Some bollards will remain in place for safety reasons. This does not eliminate or change the designated parking areas or loading/unloading zones in each block. 

One goal of this trial program is to encourage people to park in the actual parking spaces, and not out into the street. Additionally, I am hopeful that people will now drive in the designated vehicular lanes and not on the metal drainage gate located in the middle of the street. 

Again, this is a trial program only as we continue to work to make the experience for those living, doing business, and visiting historic 4th Street to be the best that it can be."