Etna's Butler Street recognized as 'Great Street' in statewide award

Anyone who has ever taken a stroll along Butler Street in Etna is familiar with the warm embrace of its residents and the joy of being enveloped by its historic, ornate buildings and storefronts.

Now the secret, if it ever was one, is out.

Butler Street in Etna has received a statewide award, having been recognized as a “Great Street” as part of the 2021 Great Places in Pennsylvania awards.

The award winners are determined by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association. For 2021, eight Great Places were chosen among three categories: Great Greenways/Trail (5), Great Public Spaces (2) and Great Streets (1).

That’s right – Butler Street was the only “street” to win an award this year.

According to the website of the American Planning Association’s Pennsylvania Chapter, “A Great Street comprises the entire three-dimensional visual corridor, including the public realm and how it relates to adjacent land uses.”

In describing the characteristics of Butler Street in Etna that earned the award, the APA highlighted how the street has “transformed into an attractive, pedestrian-friendly, multi-modal street that is bustling with activity. This 21-block corridor is home to a variety of boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, specialty food shops, and niche stores.

“Butler Street with its cultural flavor, thriving businesses, walkability, ‘green’ practices, and community engagement, enhances the quality of life in Etna Borough.”

Etna Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage said creating the cultural flavor was actually a lengthy process.

“There are so many people that have been working so hard within our community. Our green master plan was adopted in 2014. Just seeing all that hard work we put into those efforts … to see it pay off and to be acknowledged just means a great deal to a lot of people,” she said. “It’s a long time in the making. It feels really, really good.”