BY GEORGE MACDONALD
GUEST OPINION
Charlottetown’s City Council, in its wisdom, (‘mea culpa’), has once again decided that Confederation Landing Park will be the venue for not one, but two concerts of 5,000 people, rather than the Events Grounds. The very names themselves indicate that one was intended to host events while the other was intended to be used as a park.
Hosting the concerts in this beautiful park not only sees it fenced off for set up, the concert itself, takedown and cleanup, but also sees 20,000 feet stomping on the grass, stomping on the flowers and destroying the surface.
The use of the Events Grounds for concerts would allow citizens and visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful park while the concert lovers enjoy their event built for that purpose – a win-win for both.
I, for one, am disappointed, concerned and disgusted that the city council was simply interested in taking the easy way out - no thought, no creativity, no foresight, no planning and no concern for the beautiful Confederation Landing Park, as well as its users.
The chair of the city council’s intergovernmental affairs and events attractions committee indicated that the Events Grounds was too large a venue for a concert of 5,000. Surely, with a little planning, thought and creativity, a smaller venue could be created within the larger one to host smaller concerts. This should not be too difficult a task.
The committee chair is quoted in your paper: “If (the promoter) wants to go back next year, then they have to go to the Events Grounds.” If it is the right place for next year, surely it is also the right place for this year.
Ask the children in any kindergarten class the question: “What should an events grounds be used for?” I am sure their answers would not be a surprise to any of us.
- George MacDonald is a former mayor of the City of Charlottetown
