City councillors in Windsor will debate on Monday night whether to move Open Streets to the east end of Windsor next year.
Back in February, Ward 6 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac presented the council with a petition asking the city to open the street festival up to Olde Riverside, Pillette Village, Ford City, Ottawa Street and Erie Street. Her motion asked administrative staff to examine the feasibility and how much it would cost.
Now, the report is back, and it said so long as the festival remains within the eight-kilometre footprint, it won't cost any more than it has in previous years.
It suggests moving Open Streets to those business improvement areas in 2024.
In 2025, it would return to Walkerville, Wyandotte Town Centre, Downtown and Sandwich Street.
In the following years, it would alternate between the two locations. The recommendation suggests holding the event on the east side on even-numbered years and downtown and west Windsor on odd-numbered years.
Windsor introduced Open Streets in 2016, an event that sees local roads close to vehicular traffic for four hours so residents can participate in different physical activities.
That year, the city hosted the festival in July and September. Subsequent events were annual because of the logistical challenge of coordinating the festival.
Councillors approved an annual budget of $61,500 in 2019.
