In Walnut Creek, city leaders are moving closer to approving a plan to turn part of downtown into a designated “entertainment zone” for special events. The “entertainment zone” is expected to be used twice a year during the popular locust street festival, which draws thousands downtown. “It’s great for the community, opens up the space so you can roam around, dance, listen to live music, interact with all these businesses,” said Jack Nyguen of Walnut Creek. Nyguen says he’s seen similar setups in San Francisco, where people can walk between businesses with drinks in hand. “It’s great. You get to roam around, try the little shops, it’s good for the local businesses,” he said. City leaders say the plan is possible thanks to a recent state law allowing designated entertainment zones during permitted events. “This is something that is highly regulated event, partnering with a local non-profit connected to the area,” The proposed zone would cover parts of downtown around the festival with a strong emphasis on safety. “Just like every other event that we have, there will be security on the perimeter just to make sure that if there is any problems, there will be presences nearby,” Mayor of Walnut Creek Kevin Wilk said. The Walnut Creek Downtown Association, which is leading the effort, says it’s “thrilled to introduce a new amenity that supports local businesses while activating public space.” Business owners say the zone could drive more foot traffic. “All the other businesses in the other side of the city can experience this and get some nice little boost to that business, too,” said Ross Fitzsimons with Melo’s Italian Table. Fitzsimons says it could also encourage people to explore beyond the festival itself. We have some great restaurant here, going around you can stop in different restaurants, get a drink to go, there’s a really cool cocktail scene in Walnut Creek right now that just encourages people to come to that,” he said. The city council is expected to take a final vote in the coming weeks, with the first entertainment zone possibly launching this summer. ...read more read less