STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Stroudsburg officials have temporarily restricted overnight public gatherings along part of Main Street after a large crowd and several vehicles disrupted traffic during a chaotic Saturday night incident.
The restriction took effect Sunday and applies to Main Street between Fifth and Ninth streets from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Sept. 4.
The action followed an Aug. 29 gathering in which officials said a large number of people and vehicles occupied portions of Main Street, interfering with normal traffic and creating dangerous conditions.
Witness Emad Osman said he saw a driver performing donuts in the street as people gathered around the vehicle.
“He just started doing donuts recklessly,” Osman said. “So people started crowding around the car.”
Burnout marks from the activity were still visible on Main Street Sunday.
Officials said two people were arrested in connection with the disturbance. No injuries were reported, and there were no confirmed reports of damage to local businesses.
The situation prompted Stroudsburg Mayor Ellen Currie to issue a state-of-emergency proclamation and temporarily prohibit public gatherings in the affected downtown area.
The restriction covers the Main Street roadway, sidewalks and adjoining areas between Fifth and Ninth streets, including the intersections with those streets.
People can still travel through the area during the restricted hours, but they cannot gather, congregate or remain there as part of a public gathering.
The mayor said the behavior created safety concerns for drivers, pedestrians, law enforcement and nearby properties while disrupting the normal use of Main Street.
Osman said he believes additional police presence would be a more effective way to prevent similar incidents.
“They should just pretty much have more police presence,” Osman said. “There were no police on Main Street.”
The temporary restriction is scheduled to remain in place through Friday, Sept. 4. Officials may end it earlier if conditions improve, while the mayor is also considering extending the restrictions through the following weekend if another large gathering becomes a concern.
For now, the measure gives downtown Stroudsburg a temporary overnight limit on public gatherings as officials respond to concerns about reckless driving, blocked traffic and large crowds.
