Recommended upgrade for Windsor riverfront festival plaza has $20M estimated cost
CBC
Redevelopment of Windsor's Riverfront Festival Plaza has been discussed for years, but now there's a recommended design — and its estimated price tag is $20 million.
On Jan. 13, at city council's first regular meeting of the new year, administration will present three options for an overhaul of the plaza space in front of the outdoor concert stage at 340 Riverside Dr. East.
The option advised by administration — called the "Dynamic Destination Design" — is the most expensive of the three, as well as the most feature-filled.
Design highlights include: A raised platform that can act as a secondary stage, two "modern shade structures," two water jet features with lights and spray, an "iconic centrepiece" tree — ideal for seasonal holiday decoration, and plenty more.
That's on top of added green space and landscaped walking paths.
According to the report, the design aims to "create an immersive experience," as well as a "vibrant, year-round public space."
Administration estimates the project will require $11.9 million for construction, $4.2 million for engineering and fees, and $3.9 million for contingencies.
The $20-million design is less costly and less ambitious than ideas for the plaza discussed at the start of 2024, when there were suggestions of a $67-million canopy enveloping the plaza.
Two other, cheaper options are also being presented in the new report.
The second option, "Functional Elements," has an estimated cost of $17 million. It loses most of the first option's highlights except for one water feature, but keeps the green space and the walking paths.
The third option, "Simple Features," only has the green space and walking paths, at a cost of $13 million.
Downtown's Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino has been campaigning for a festival plaza upgrade since long before he was elected in 2022. He argues there are good reasons to go for the $20-million option.
"Everything in that option will give that place not just a chance to survive, but really a chance to thrive," Agostino said. "If you're going to do something, you just gotta do it right."
According to Agostino, history has shown that "piecemeal" improvements aren't effective for the downtown core, and what's needed to make the festival plaza attractive and useful is a commitment to transformation.
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Redevelopment of Windsor's Riverfront Festival Plaza has been discussed for years, but now there's a recommended design — and its estimated price tag is $20 million.
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