It considered its options, but the administration at Windsor City Hall can not figure out how it will successfully pull off this year's Open Streets Windsor event, so it is recommending the city pull the plug.
Open Streets Windsor has been a popular event over the past three years, drawing as many as 10,000 participants to participate in activities on eight kilometres of closed roads.
It is a significant endeavour involving 200 activities put on by just as many volunteer organizations. More than 300 volunteers assisted in road closures, the majority of whom were international students from the University of Windsor and St. Clair College.
An event earlier this spring was cancelled because of a ban on gatherings during the pandemic. However, $111,500 has been allocated in the city's budget for the festival to be held on Sunday, September 20.
City staff said they consulted with the Special Events Resource Team and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit about the event. They considered several options to bring it into compliance with current provincial government orders. They included altering the route and modifying activities. However, outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people are still banned by the province, and with thousands taking part, it would violate that order.
The report by the administration also expressed concerns it could become a vector for spreading COVID-19.
That, coupled with the unlikelihood that many of the volunteers from previous events would be available, the administration has recommended that the event be cancelled.
Windsor City Council will discuss the report from the administration during its meeting Monday morning.
