Concept plans for permanent outdoor festival site to be presented to city council

Saskatoon could have a new permanent site for year-round festivals if city council gives it the green light.

A concept plan is to be presented next week to the Governance and Priorities Committee. A study began last May, with project requirements, recommendations and phases outlined.

According to community services general manager Lynne Lacroix, the new site would be located between River Landing and the Bessborough Hotel, in the Friendship Park area, or River Central along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River.

“The concept plan really creates a vision,” she said. “It’s a grand vision of a very purposefully built, permanent downtown festival site with amenities and benefits while also working to protect environmental, cultural and community considerations.”

Because of the scale of the project, it would be created in stages with Phase 1 to begin sometime this spring. Lacroix says there has been an allocation for $2 million from the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) already by city council.

The first phase of the work will include building a headquarters that will contain year-round public washrooms, storage areas and a central hub for event organizers. There will also be a large area for crowds of up to 7,500 for events.

There will also be areas for food vendors, ticketing and merchandising. There would be a stage area facing north, towards the downtown. There could also be temporary street closures in the area during festivals to allow people to spread out more.

At this point, there isn’t an end date for completion in mind. Lacroix says the city will be looking at all potential funding sources to help complete the project. The total cost is so far is $12.885 million.

“We will (also) be seeking out potentially other sources of funding as we see new other levels of grants or funding that come available,” she said. “It may be an opportunity to seek out some sponsorship kinds of opportunities to help facilitate the development of it.”

It would not be the only site for festivals. Lacroix adds there are other areas that will also be used.

“Festival and event organizers will look to host events in a manner that best fits their event,” she said.

She cited the Saskatoon Jazz Festival as one of those events that typically takes place in several areas around the city, including the Bessborough Hotel gardens. The Shakespeare On The Saskatchewan festival also has its own site.

“This won’t be the sole location,” she emphasized.

Saskatoon typically hosts just under 300 festivals and events every year.