Saskatoon’s City Council will be reviewing a report on the feasibility of a permanent outdoor festival site at Tuesday’s meeting. General Manager Lynn Lacroix  says after extensive stakeholder engagement which began early last year, one location stood out.
It’s described as River Central and it includes the edges of River Landing and heading along the riverbank to the Vimy Memorial and up to the Bessborough Hotel.

One advantage to a permanent site, Lacroix notes, is there have been concerns in the past that some of the big multi-day events are challenging for the grass and the trees. The plan is to design a site that keeps traffic away from the heritage trees and their roots.

Phase 1 would include year-round washrooms, a building to be used as a headquarters which would include storage space, utility nodes for electricity and water, separate zones for tickets, merchandisers and food vendors. The entry area would be at the top end of Friendship Park with seating and gathering space. Through the province’s Municipal Economic Enhancement Program, $2-million has been set aside for Phase 1 of this potential permanent site.

The plan includes a slight re-alignment of Spadina Crescent. A new pedestrian ramp would allow connections from the Broadway Bridge to Spadina, which would make the site more accessible and improve pedestrian circulation to and from the site. Lacroix says no heritage trees would be felled from this work.

She emphasizes it wouldn’t be mandatory for festivals to use this permanent site. If the concept plan is approved, City administration will be looking into more funding later on through sponsorships and other government grants.