No tricks, just traffic: Kennebunk's Summer Street won't close for Halloween

KENNEBUNK, Maine — When trick-or-treaters go door-to-door on Summer Street this Halloween, they’re going to need to look both ways before crossing the road.

The town of Kennebunk recently announced that Summer Street, a popular destination for candy-seeking kids every Oct. 31, will not be closed to vehicular traffic as it has been over the years.

Traditionally, the town has closed Summer Street to motorists for a few hours on Halloween night, so that families could move freely from one side of the road to the other as they go from house to house. In a press release on Aug. 22, however, town officials cited residents’ concerns, state road regulations, public safety, and community impacts as reasons for deciding to keep the street open this year.

“Residents in other neighborhoods have noted a decline in trick-or-treaters as more people flock to Summer Street, affecting the traditional community spirit across the town,” the press release stated. “What originally started by the homeowners on Summer Street as a small, local event has since grown into a large-scale gathering that has become difficult for current residents to sustain.”

According to town officials, many Summer Street residents have expressed concerns about dealing with restricted access to their homes for extended periods on Halloween.

And then there’s the cost of all that candy. Some residents on Summer Street also have spoken of the increasing financial burden of buying goodies in bulk to accommodate the huge crowds that knock on their doors, according to the town’s press release. Each year, some residents have spent more than $1,000 stocking up on candy for the expected onslaught of Ninja Turtles, Marvel superheroes, Disney princesses, and good old-fashioned ghosts and goblins.

Also behind the town's decision: the Maine Department of Transportation has imposed stricter regulations on state road closures, including Summer Street, which is part of Route 35.

In terms of public safety, the town’s police and fire departments have had to deploy additional personnel to manage the Summer Street trick-or-treating every year, which strains local resources, according to town officials.

On Tuesday, Police Chief Robert MacKenzie said officers will still patrol Summer Street on Halloween, just as they will other neighborhoods that evening.

"Given the road will not be closed, we ask that the public use the sidewalks and take precautions as they would on any street, especially when crossing the streets," he said.

Many of the Summer Street homeowners who started the Halloween tradition years ago have moved away, and those who now live at their former residences have tried to keep the annual festivity going.

“It is important to note that this has never been an official town or Chamber of Commerce event, and asking private homeowners to manage such a significant event has become increasingly challenging,” the press release added.

The town’s decision is getting a mixed reaction from the public, with some in favor and others against.

During separate phone interviews on Tuesdays, two Summer Street residents, Mike D'Amica and Frances Smith, both shared their views on the decision. While D'Amica said he disagreed with the town's decision, and Smith said she supported it, both neighbors, ironically, had the same concern behind their stance: safety.

D’Amica said he was against the decision, especially given that trick-or-treating will still be allowed in his neighborhood. He noted that Summer Street only has a sidewalk on one side and expressed concern the evening could become dangerous for trick-or-treaters and their families as they keep an eye out for passing cars.

“It could turn into a very unsafe event,” he said.

D’Amica said he is aware of neighbors who feel the same way. He said he and some neighbors will be holding a meeting to discuss their concerns at his restaurant, Mike’s American Diner on Route 1, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m.

Smith spoke in favor of the town’s decision, adding she was confident local officials have given the situation a lot of thought. She said she could see both sides of the issue but personally supported the decision not to close the street.

Smith too noted that Summer Street only has one sidewalk, which she described as in disrepair with tree trunks and frost heaves. She also noted that many children wear costumes that are too awkward to allow a full range of movement – something they would need to react quickly for safety reasons – and include masks and other face-coverings that limit their range of vision.

“For me, it’s frightening,” she said. “We’ve been fortunate not to have an accident.”

Halloween will go on even with Summer Street open to traffic

Trick-or-treaters will still be able to visit homes on Summer Street during their quest for candy. Many residents likely will still decorate their homes and buy all those fun-sized chocolate bars and other goodies.

Laura Dolce, the executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce, said Halloween, with all of its cherished traditions, “is still going to go on.”

In fact, a new local tradition is being added to all the others on this spookiest of nights.

The town of Kennebunk and the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce will host a free Halloween Party at the Waterhouse Center on Main Street from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 31. According to Dolce, the event will include a DJ spinning spooky tunes, face-painting, and trick-or-treating with local businesses and the police and fire departments.

“It’s going to be a really nice event,” Dolce said.

Businesses throughout Downtown Kennebunk, Lower Village, and Dock Square will hand out treats on the big day, also from 4 to 6 p.m.

Dolce said the decision not to close Summer Street also is intended to encourage trick-or-treaters to spread out more throughout the community. Residents everywhere have missed welcoming trick-or-treaters to their homes in recent years, as Summer Street has continued to grow as a popular attraction.

“A lot of residents have expressed sadness,” Dolce said.

Dolce said the town began closing Summer Street about a decade ago. She said she has fond memories of taking her children trick-or-treating back when the street remained open for motorists.

“It was still wonderful,” she said. “It was still a go-to place.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: No tricks, just traffic: Kennebunk's Summer Street won't close for Halloween