Wally Keeler addresses Town Council

September 13, 2010, Wally Keeler addresses Cobourg Town Council as Committee of the Whole. The issue was damage done to the grounds of Victoria Park by Northumberland Ribfest and suggestions on how to prevent it.

Recommendations to prevent damage to the grounds of Victoria Park by Northumberland Ribfest.

If the event is to be staged in the same configuration as in 2010, then:
1. some form of ground cover must be placed under each cooking rig.
2. the grounds must be returned to the condition in which it was found

If the event is to be staged in Victoria Park, then:
1. park the cooking rigs along Queen St between McGill & Church, or
2. park the cooking rigs along McGill St south of Queen.
3. the grounds must be returned to the condition in which it was found

Ribfest attracted 30,000 visitors. This will grow in the coming near years. Do the people of Cobourg want Victoria Park to bear this burden at such expense? While other events leave a small foot print on the park, Ribfest leaves a bootprint. A large portion of the park is sealed off for six days, including the build & dismantling, thereby denying the full and free enjoyment of Victoria Park as a park.

1. The best location for Ribfest is the east pier.
2. More parking available around the entire harbour, than around Victoria Park.
3. hard surface for any spillage, expedites clean-up
4. speakers and amplifiers are turned south to the United States of America alleviating noise complaints from Cobourg residents north of Elgin.
5. continue the enriching legacy of the Rotary Club’s marvellous job along Cobourg’s harbourfront by utilizing an underused area of the harbour.
6. relieves Victoria Park of the burden of host.
7. an ‘exotic’ location where ribfesters are surrounded by water; the sense of a cruise ship. A cool breeze on a hot summer night.
8. spend funds enhancing the east pier, instead of paying for damage to Victoria Park.
9. it can handle the growth of popularity of Ribfest for years to come.

The Parks Board consider distributing the locus of various events into other parks in Cobourg; to ease the footprint made on Victoria Park. That the Parks Board develop a policy regarding MAJOR events that are likely to have an excessive impact on the park grounds.

The Town Council reaffirm that Victoria Park’s ‘constitutional’ legacy continues to be one of Free Access For All.