Jackson Park lights display narrowly approved

City council narrowly voted Monday night to spend $3 million on a massive holiday lights display at Jackson Park.

Mayor Drew Dilkens, who asked city staff to develop the plan, said he sees it as a legacy project that will leave people “wowed.”

“I want them to leave saying, ‘Wow, that was amazing, I’m proud of my community, I’m proud of my city,’ ” Dilkens said. “It includes something you can bring the family to for free and experience something you’ve never experienced in the City of Windsor.”

Council voted six-to-five in favour of the project. City administration provided a report on the possibilities after Dilkens asked them to determine the cost of creating a showcase to wrap up the Windsor 125 and Canada 150 celebrations.

The suggested display would light up Jackson Park through December and into January.

The plan includes wrapping 500 trees with 16,000 light strings along the paved pathway, and putting an 18-metre tree with lights in the sunken gardens surrounded with decorations.

City staff also suggested a large display at the park entrance near Tecumseh Road with a reindeer and Santa sleigh. Another suggestion was hanging a huge wreath over the entrance of the trellis structure east of the garden, and covering the pillars and overhead structure with lights.

The staff report said arts and crafts, carriage rides and food vendors could be added.

The report said hiring a team of professionals with experience in holiday lighting events and displays would likely be required.

To pay for the endeavour, the city will use an anticipated $1-million surplus from an Enwin special dividend, $400,000 from the Windsor World Junior Hockey placeholder and an anticipated $500,000 surplus from 2017 OLG funding.

Another $1.1 million will come from the 2014 enhanced capital placeholder funding for a new city hall parking garage.

Staff estimates it would cost $300,000 annually to put up the display after the first year.

Administration suggested finding sponsors or partnering with BIAs to help offset the costs. Council heard Monday there have so far been no commitments from businesses or organizations.

Prominent business owner Mark Boscariol spoke at Monday’s meeting, questioning why this project suddenly appeared when it wasn’t on previous funding priority lists.

He said there are many other priorities the money could be spent on to improve neighbourhoods.

But this is “not a war on Christmas,” he said. “To me, it’s a war for our neighbourhoods, regardless of how important Christmas is.”

Ward 10 resident Jim Morrison said he’d rather see the money used to fix roads and make them safer with better lighting, sidewalks and bike lanes, or at least a display that can be enjoyed year-round.

Like Morrison, most councillors who voted against the idea said there are other priorities.

Ward 3 Coun. Irek Kusmierczyk said he doesn’t believe residents in his ward would support the display.

“They want to see investment in existing infrastructure, to maintain existing assets to make sure our libraries are in good condition, make sure our parks are in good condition, make sure our roads are in good condition,” he said.

Ward 4 Coun. Chris Holt, who also voted against it, said $3 million is an “incredible expenditure,” and the plan wasn’t fleshed out enough to spend so much.

“I don’t really know what we’re investing in here,” he said. “I don’t understand it besides the mayor saying it’s going to be wonderful.”

“I just wish there was more meat to this idea so I could know what I was voting for.”

Ward 10 Coun. Paul Borrelli said the display is a chance to bring Windsor “alive.” He said Jackson Park has been a “quiet park” for many years.

“This is a time to maybe enliven it a little bit,” said Borelli. “Bring Jackson Park and Windsor alive again.”