Thunder Bay’s north downtown will feature more outdoor seating and patio space for the season.

The Waterfront District BIA is working with the city and urban design firm Brook McIlroy on a pilot project to see how it could reshape the north downtown core, which is due for major water main work in the next few years.

BIA Coordinator Kara Pratt says they’re hopeful it’ll bring more people out to enjoy the entire neighbourhood, not just the section of Red River Road that was blocked off last summer.

“It’s not just Red River Road. We have patios on Cumberland Street, and St. Paul, and we’re looking to add more on Cumberland Street in Phase 2,” she explains.

Pratt says they hope to make the area more pedestrian-friendly during the pilot project.

“Possibly showcasing something that’s closer to what the new look will be, or teach us what it could be. Hopefully [planters] reduce some of the winds that come down. We’ll see what we can do and what can happen,” Pratt says.

Because she’s expecting more people to be out walking, she adds drivers should be careful in the downtown area. You may also see some brief road closures.

The BIA also commissioned several local artists and organizations to decorate picnic tables.