1. MORROW PARK GRANDSTAND

Every time city council discusses the fate of the Morrow Park grandstand, it’s an edge-ofthe-seat performance for the audience.

What’s going to happen next? Who’s going to say the next outrageous thing about the historic — if faltering — seating structure? Can the city and Peterborough Agricultural Society work together?

It has been a reoccurring discussion for the last several years and 2011 had its share of grandstand debate.

In April, city staff recommended closing the grandstand instead of continuing to spend money on patching up the aging structure. The Agricultural Society has opposed attempts to tear down the grandstand, which it uses for the Exhibition.

Council decided to make minor repairs to keep the grandstand open for the Exhibition in August.

Then in May the city unveiled the long-term plan for Morrow Park – a plan that doesn’t include the grandstand.

On Dec. 12, council approved the first phase of that long-term plan for Morrow Park, including the removal of the grandstand to reuse the space and the creation of an area for temporary seating. But council made the demolition of the grandstand contingent on the city getting the approval of the Agricultural Society for the project.

Will the improvements to Morrow Park go forward in 2012 or will the grandstand stand in the way?