INDIANAPOLIS -- Vehicle traffic won't be allowed around Monument Circle for a month as part of a pilot program to test the feasibility of turning it into a pedestrian mall, similar to those in many European cities.

Traffic and parking will be restricted to the spokes around the circle during the month of August, and events will be planned to draw visitors to the city's center, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

Indianapolis spokeswoman Jen Pittman said the experiment has practical reasoning.

The brick section of Meridian Street needs constant repair because of vehicular traffic, Pittman said, and emissions from vehicles degrade the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument over time.

"We want to try it. We want to see what happens, and we want feedback," Pittman said. "We want feedback from the public. We want feedback from the businesses around the circle."

Some vendors around the circle said they are eager to find out if the test will increase the number of walk-in customers.

"I think it's going to depend on the season for us on how it works out," said Matt Csanyi with the South Bend Chocolate Company. "I can see in the winter time, people not necessarily wanting to walk all the way down here and pick up some holiday chocolates or something like that."

Some pedestrians said it would be a good idea in terms of safety.

"It seems like this is always a problem intersection anyway here, and there's a lot of pedestrian traffic. It will probably be safer," said Dennis Hauersperger.

If feedback is positive, the city said it will consider making the change permanent.