Saskatoon pitches permanent festival site

SASKATOON, SASK. — Saskatoon residents could soon have a permanent site for outdoor festivals.

City officials explained a site would not only help festivals and other events with programming, but it would prevent grass, trees and other natural infrastructure from being damaged.

The city is now poised to present their plans in a report to the governance and priorities committee for approval.

“Saskatoon is renowned for its festivals and events,” said Lynne Lacroix, general manager of community services, in a statement. “From music festivals to celebrations of local food and record-setting snowball fights, the amount, variety and scale of events in the city is important to the cultural, social and economic life of Saskatoon.”

The approval report includes details on work done to select the preferred site near the South Saskatchewan River and a comprehensions concept plan. City officials also will present cost, risk and budgetary analysis on the plan.

If approved, the plan would be split into phases. Phase 1, totalling $2 million, would be paid for by the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program and construction would start this spring.

“Phase 1 will provide us with a great site that will be a gathering place for Saskatoon,” added Lacroix. “The remaining phases can be constructed over time, pending future budget and funding considerations and approval.”