Archive

Popular Urban Slide not returning to Orangeville

June 1, 2017   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Pickford

Despite the apparent success of last year’s Urban Slide event in Orangeville, Town Council has decided to pull the plug on an event some members believe brings nothing to the community.

While the decision was made last month that the Town would not be welcoming 365 Sports Inc. back for another year of aquatic fun along Broadway, Council explained their decision to members of the public on Monday (May 29) with Coun. Scott Wilson stating the Ontario-based organization did not follow through on its promises to donate money to a number of local charities.

“I don’t want to go back on this,” Coun. Wilson said. “The way I look at it, this organization did not follow through with commitments it made to donate money to charities in town. My position remains the same” (as when Council voted last month).

Reports have claimed that 365 Sport donated about $4,000 to Headwaters Health Care Centre and Family Transition Place following last year’s event, although both Coun. Wilson and Coun. Don Kidd say they have seen no evidence nor heard any confirmation of donations having been made.

The Urban Slide was scheduled to land in Orangeville on July 21 and 22. 365 Sports offered to reimburse the municipality for the water used during the event. In return, they asked that council carry out road closures so the 1,100-foot water slide could run along the downtown core. Speaking to council last month, Alison Scheel, General Manager of Orangeville’s Business Improvement Area, noted this was a low-cost way to attract residents to the downtown core.

“The Urban Slide will attract thousands of visitors to downtown Orangeville, many of whom come from outside the local area,” Ms. Scheel said. “These events come with a very low price tag for OBIA members and entertain residents and visitors within the downtown area on a relatively low cost user basis.”

In a letter submitted to council, she asked that council reconsider its decision and allow 365 Sports to bring its Urban Slide to Orangeville later this summer.

“The overall feedback from our members and the public regarding the event was very positive… As a general rule of thumb, the OBIA Board of Management encourages third-party events like the Urban Slide, Brewzapalooza and the Hip on Mill Street as they serve to attract people to downtown Orangeville, resulting in a positive social and economic impact for our community,” Ms. Scheel wrote.

Coun. Sylvia Bradley said she didn’t like the idea of simply giving up town resources and space free of charge, stating it could set a dangerous precedent for other events in the future.

“The issue I have is that this is a for-profit organization coming to us and asking to use Town facilities for free. I have a problem with that,” Coun. Bradley said. “If we open this up again, where do we go from here. What about other (for-profits) looking to use our space? I know we wouldn’t give permission for a Chip Truck to park out by Alexandra Park, so I don’t see why we should give this Urban Slide a whole street to do the same sort of thing.”

She added, “If this is a not-for-profit then it’s a different thing entirely, but it’s not.”

Readers Comments (0)