What Makes Xenia Avenue a Great Place?
Visitors must drive to Yellow Springs, but once there, cars are irrelevant and are easily parked in unobtrusive public parking lots and on side streets. One central Xenia Ave. lot borders the Yellow Caboose Bicycle and Skate Rental and an 80-mile bike trail. The trailheads for several parks are within walking distance. The street itself is narrow and cars move slowly, thanks in part to frequent crosswalks announced by orange barrels and large signs. A pedestrian walkway/plaza runs perpendicular to Xenia and is rimmed by shops, a tavern, and benches. A clearly-signed visitor center guides tourists and provides public restrooms. The streetscape is warm and inviting: shopkeepers hang hand-painted signs out over doorways and windowboxes abound. There are plenty of tree-shaded benches. Trees are very important to the residents: the biggest local controversy of last year occurred when Ye Olde Trail Tavern announced it was removing the old oak tree on its stretch of Xenia Ave sidewalk. Sit-in
