Anyone who wants a say in what the downtown pedestrian mall will look like this summer has until Friday to be heard.

That’s the deadline for public input as the City of St. John’s grapples with competing interests on the subject.

The concept was considered a resounding success last summer and fall, despite the pandemic.

But balancing the interests of businesses on Water Street versus those on Duckworth Street has become a challenge.

Then there was the recent recommendation to remove a section of Water Street from the courthouse to Prescott Street from the mall.

Councillor Shawn Skinner says nothing’s a done deal. He says no decisions have been made, and that the recommendations that were brought forward are just that, and will be considered along with all other information gathered.

Councillors Skinner and Debbie Hanlon recently held meetings with business owners on Duckworth and Water streets.

They say all public input will be considered before recommendations for the pedestrian mall come before council in two weeks’ time.