CORNWALL, Ontario – At their meeting on Oct. 24, Cornwall City Council approved a $90, 000 budget for a winter festival in Lamoureux Park to mark Canada’s Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary celebrations.
At least $60, 000 of the budget will go towards Chritsmas lights in the park and around the Civic Complex. There are also plans for a toboggan hill, skating rinks and for the paths in the park to be kept clear of snow throughout the winter.
“This will effectively turn the waterfront into a family park and it will be a family park all winter because the washroom and canteen will be open,” said Councillor Elaine MacDonald, the mover of the motion. “I think that the best part of this request is that the paths will be open. Hopefully we will bring this back next year.”
Councillor David Murphy was somewhat floored by the price tag for the lights.
“$60, 000 for the lights, that’s almost as much as I paid for my first house and continuing this on an ongoing basis, is there anyway we can mitigate that,” he asked.
Administration did say that while lights were expensive, that this was set aside as a cost estimate. Also, CAO Maureen Adams said that Administration would be applying for federal funds that have been set aside for Canada’s 150th celebrations.
“Purchasing of these lights is something we can re-use in the future,” said Councillor Bernadette Clement. “Lights are hugely expensive, but they’re great.”
The goal of the plan is to have the first lights installed by the Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 19, but administration conceded that this might not be possible on such a tight deadline.
Other features that will be included in this plan would be heated changing rooms for the skating rinks in the park, A canteen and public washrooms.
