Windsor council backs $20M Festival Plaza plan but not the funding

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Windsor council will pursue one of the pricier plans to upgrade a prominent riverfront space — notorious for trapping summer heat and lacking amenities — that one event organizer describes as “just a glorified parking lot.”

Actual funding for the project, however, could be several years away. 

On Monday, council approved a master plan for Festival Plaza that incorporates $20 million in improvements aimed at reducing the heat island effect and making the waterfront venue a more attractive space for organizers to host events.

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The riverfront is Windsor’s “Niagara Falls” and something council “should show love to,” said Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino, who represents the downtown neighbourhood and has planned events at Festival Plaza.

In an impassioned speech, he warned his colleagues against letting the venue remain “stagnant” and letting a future council decide its fate. He named the bandshell in Jackson Park as an example of a Windsor amenity left to “rot” because council neglected to take action.

“If we let this die today, it’s going to keep going on and on until the point where there’s nobody left at Festival Plaza,” Agostino said. “This time, our mistake won’t be hidden behind a baseball diamond. It won’t be backed up to a football field. It’ll be right on our riverfront.

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Windsor’s riverfront is something council “should show love to,” said an impassioned Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino during debate on upgrading Festival Plaza at a meeting of city council on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Taylor Campbell /Windsor Star

Seth Perera, owner and operator of Windsor’s Wise Owl Event Solutions, also worked as a site manager for LiUNA Blues Fest at Festival Plaza. He said the site has “nothing there” that event organizers need, such as shaded areas, tents, and washrooms. Upgrading the venue and adding a smaller stage — another part of the plan — would transform it into a more widely used community space.

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“We have a beautiful waterfront,” Perera said. “It baffles me that there aren’t things going on there every weekend in the summer. The reality is, it’s just too expensive when there’s nothing on that site. It’s just a glorified parking lot.

“The stage is beautiful, but that’s all that’s really there. In order to do a proper event … everything has to be brought there. That’s a huge expense.”

The master plan’s preferred design option includes two shade structures, two water features, a secondary platform for events, raised seat walls, bike and e-scooter parking, a storage area with storage containers, and container kitchens to accommodate food services or merchandise sales.

As part of that $20-million plan, staff recommend demolishing the existing storage building and moving the electrical service at the site’s entrance “to improve access and visual appeal;” expanding green spaces with trees, planters, and grassy areas; installing tiered grass seating and permanent “seat walls” that create a wind buffer; and adding semi-permanent vendor structures.

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City council approved a $20-million plan for upgrades to Festival Plaza at a council meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Funding for the project has not yet been allocated. Photo by Image courtesy City of Windsor /Windsor Star

City treasurer and chief financial officer Janice Guthrie said the mayor’s proposed 2025 capital budget includes approximately $18.6 million for the entire central riverfront improvement plan and civic esplanade/plaza over the next five years. She cautioned that additional funding would not be available in that five-year window.

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Although council can ultimately decide to shelve the Festival Plaza master plan and never spend a dime on the property, or to implement improvements in phases over many years, Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis voted against adopting the document.

“It’s about cost to the residents of the City of Windsor,” Francis said. “We heard from entrepreneurs, we heard from promoters, we heard from business people, all of whom are not taking the risk and putting their money at play. It’s going to the residents — you’re taking all the risk.”

Francis suggested council seek less costly upgrades for Festival Plaza, since the current budget allocates around $12 million for all approved civic esplanade/plaza improvements.

“You spend what you have. You don’t spend what you wish you had, because at the end of the day, that risk is going to be there.”

Agostino moved adoption of the $20-million plan. Council and mayor voted 8-3 in favour, with Ward 2 Coun. Fabio Costante and Ward 7 Coun. Angelo Marignani siding with Francis in opposition.

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The Windsor riverfront Festival Plaza is shown on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, with the stage on the right. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

Council received an update on Festival Plaza improvements a year ago that recommended $17 million in upgrades, including “cooling” design features, such as large shade trees, green space, and furniture, to protect visitors from extreme heat.

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A separate consultant’s report that followed said a permanent canopy to cover the outdoor event space was “crucial” to event organizers and would cost between $48 million and $67 million, depending on its size.

At the time, in January 2024, council directed staff to provide another more “cost-effective” option for council to consider.

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In addition to the updated $20-million design presented to council this week, council was presented two slightly less costly options.

One has “functional elements” such as expanded green space, a single water feature, umbrella picnic tables, bike and e-scooter parking, and some storage, but excludes “key features,” such as shade structures and seat walls. Estimated cost: $17 million.

A more “simple” $13-million option — a “minimalist approach to the riverfront event space,” according to the staff report — adds green space, planters, umbrella picnic tables, and bike and e-scooter parking, but little else.

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With a spectacular riverfront view of downtown Detroit, Windsor’s Festival Plaza stage is shown on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

James Chacko, the city’s executive director of parks, facilities, and recreation, said there are infrastructure “limitations” to Festival Plaza that the preferred design addresses while remediating the “heat island effect.”

“This site is no longer viable for a number of days throughout the summer and even in the colder seasons, even in the wintertime where it’s not been an inviting space,” Chacko said.

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