Council begins permit process to consider closing North Capitol Avenue for Halloween; sets trick-or-treat hours

A resident petitioned the Corydon Town Council on Monday to close North Capitol Avenue for two hours on Halloween to reduce pedestrian risk, and the council voted to begin the permit process and to set town trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m.

"We would like to see if we could petition to close North Capitol Avenue from Cedar Glade Avenue to Walnut from 6:00 to 8:00 PM," said Megan Stockdale during public comment, asking the council to explore barricades, police support and volunteer staffing.

Stockdale said neighbors worry about cars driving through crowded sidewalks and about poor visibility after dark. Council members and residents discussed logistics including closing offoffshoot streets, volunteer marshals, use of barricades the town already uses for events, and the need for INDOT and county cooperation for closures that cross county or state-controlled roads. A resident also noted that emergency vehicles would be accommodated if access were needed.

The council voted to authorize staff to begin the permitting and planning process with the petitioners and county/INDOT as needed. In a separate vote, the council set the town's official trick-or-treat hours for Halloween from 6 to 8 p.m.

The decision is procedural: council members directed staff and the volunteer group to produce maps and logistical plans and to return with a proposed closure footprint and permit application. Council members said they expect to review operational details and finalize barricade placement and staffing before the event.

Next steps: staff will assist the volunteer group in preparing permit materials and mapping; the council intends to revisit operational details at a later meeting before finalizing any street closures.