Windsor city councillors divided over $20M proposal for Festival Plaza redevelopment

The Riverfront Festival Plaza in Windsor may be on the verge of a major transformation, with city council set to debate a $20-million redevelopment plan at its first meeting of the new year.

The proposal is the most ambitious of three options presented by city administration, aiming to turn the riverfront venue into a vibrant, multi-use event space.

The design plan — called "Dynamic Destination" — includes a secondary stage, interactive water features, modernized shade structures and a centerpiece tree.

For downtown councillor Renaldo Agostino, this is a long-overdue investment.

“The space, although used, isn’t meeting its full potential,” Agostino said.

“It’s not doing what the possibilities of it could do for our downtown, for our city, being right on prime real estate on the riverfront.”

Agostino, an event promoter, has advocated for upgrades to the plaza for years. He says the current layout — a concrete stage surrounded by a parking lot discourages promoters and limits the types of events the venue can host.

“When you look at the events that used to be hosted at the riverfront, very few made it to year two,” Agostino said.

“Unless you’re doing a 10,000-person concert starting at 8 p.m. that doesn’t have to deal with the heat, the space just isn’t conducive to attracting events.”

While Agostino believes the investment would activate the waterfront, attract high-caliber performers, and boost the local economy through tourism, not all councillors are on board.

South Windsor councillor Fred Francis is a vocal opponent, arguing the city has more pressing priorities.

“With high tax rates, high unemployment, traffic congestion, crime, and housing, these are all priorities that come well ahead of giving Festival Plaza a facelift just so you could throw parties there during the summer,” Francis said.

Francis also pointed to other downtown projects he views as missteps, including the Legacy Beacon and the City Hall skating rink, as reasons to avoid further spending on the core.

“The irony is that at City Hall, you had a green space, and you took that away to put in concrete and an ice rink — and with Festival Plaza, you have concrete, and now you’re trying to take that away to put in green space," Francis said.

"It just doesn’t make sense to me."

Instead, Francis suggests redirecting some of the funding to the Sandpoint Beach Master Plan, which will also be discussed at council’s first meeting of the new year.

The two alternative options for Festival Plaza redevelopment are cheaper than the "Dynamic Destinations" option.

They are called "Functional Elements and "Simpler Features and are priced at $17 million and $13 million, respectively.

Agostino maintains the $20-million plan strikes the right balance between cost and impact, noting that much of the funding is already allocated.

“It’s been 20 years,” Agostino said. “Let’s get this done. Let’s be known as the council that got this done.”

Windsor city council resumes Jan. 13.