Come out for Columbus Ave. celebration

SANDUSKY — Sandusky officials invite the community to celebrate the grand opening of the newly redesigned Columbus Avenue. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 in front of City Hall, 240 Columbus Ave, Sandusky. "A community event, hosted with support from the Greater Sandusky Partnership, will run from 4-6 p.m., which will lead into the Sandusky Celebrations Council Gazebo Concert Series at 7 p.m. in Washington Park," according to an event statement. From 4-6 p.m., "Visitors can expect a casual, open-house-style celebration with activities and opportunities to explore the new street," the statement read. "Local businesses will be open and welcoming guests. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to come down, walk the new streetscape, and take part in celebrating both Sandusky's past and its future." A new look The event will mark the official reopening of the three-block stretch of Columbus Avenue from Water Street to Washington Park, following a $5 million streetscape project that has transformed one of downtown's key corridors. Designed to support both business activity and everyday life, the new streetscape features: • A completely rebuilt roadway and new underground infrastructure, including the replacement of an 85-year-old water main • Wider sidewalks and a new 20-foot pedestrian zone with space for outdoor dining and retail • Decorative lighting and updated amenities to create a more inviting downtown • Streetside landscaping that forms a linear park through downtown, connecting Washington Park to the waterfront These improvements follow the vision laid out in the downtown Sandusky master plan and "continue the momentum" from recent projects like Jackson Street Pier and Shoreline Drive, the statement read. "The redesigned Columbus Avenue offers a more accessible, pedestrian-friendly and vibrant experience that reflects both Sandusky's historic character and its forward-looking investments," it read. People can visit cityofsandusky.com/columbusave for more information.