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Ride for Sight gets mixed reviews
Neighbours were unhappy with burnouts, but others say the event will have a lasting positive impact on tourism
By MIRANDA MINASSIAN The Packet & Times
City officials may have high praise for the Ride for Life event held over the weekend, but reviews from residents within earshot of Tudhope Park aren't as glowing.
Stanley Crescent resident Cathy Austin is concerned that parties in the park could become the new norm.
"The noise from the stage wasn't offensive because we are used to Mariposa, but we don't want to live across from party central," she said. "I don't want to end up with a festival every weekend."
She, like other residents in the area, raised concerns about overall noise levels, as well as the volume and damage done by riders performing burnouts — an intentional spinning of the back tire while the vehicle remains stationary.
"There were hundreds of people camping there and consequently made a lot of noise," Austin said. "You can't control that, and that's why we don't want them in a residential area."
Austin also objected to the trail being closed to residents for the duration of the event.
While she isn't opposed to seeing the Ride for Sight return to Orillia, Austin would like to see the festival moved out of Tudhope Park.
"The Orillia Fairgrounds could be used or Burl's Creek. There is lots of camping space there and it is out in the country," she said. "I'm glad they are raising money for a worthwhile cause, and I don't want to take away from that, but I don't think Tudhope is the best place."
As a taxpayer, she doesn't want to see the economic benefit from the event overpower the cost that she and her neighbors have paid, Austin said.
"It isn't fair to those of us that live in the area," she said.
Shirley Kinsella, who was house sitting on Stanley Crescent during the event, mirrored all of Austin's concerns.
She also suggested the fairgrounds would be a more appropriate location, should the festival return next year.
"It was not pleasant whatsoever," she said. "The burnouts were something else. There was smoke coming over the lake."
While most riders are respectful of property and noise bylaws, there is always a minority who will act out, said Debbie Dixon, director of marketing and events for Ride For Sight Canada.
"That's why we give the city a damage deposit," said Dixon. "For people who do do burnouts, they need to know that Ride for Sight has to fix that, which goes directly against why they're here for, raising money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness."
The festival normally has a designated area for burnouts, but chose not to this year to respect the city's concerns surrounding noise issues, Dixon said.
According to Ray Merkley, director of Parks and Recreation, there were no major issues and overall damage to the park was minimal.
Calling the marks by left by riders doing burnouts "nothing major," he confirmed that Ride for Sight would pick up the tab for any repairs necessary.
"It looks good. I think the average person would have a hard time telling there was that many people in the park this weekend if you walked around there now," he said. "Obviously, any time you have that many people in a park, you are going to have trampled down grass and things like that, but nothing out of the ordinary for an event like that."
Both Coun. Michael Fogarty and Coun. Andrew Hill attended the event over the course of the weekend, and each believes the experience was a positive one overall.
Acknowledging that there were some "short-lived" issues, Fogarty believes the festival was good for the city.
"We all know we have a gem here, and I am beyond the point of try to protect it for ourselves. If we are serious about economic development, we need to develop economically, and this is a great way to do it," he said. "We put Orillia on the map with 5,000 visitors in one fell swoop. How many people know the name Orillia today that didn't know it yesterday? I'm going to say that number is substantial."
Living within earshot of ODAS Park, where an overnight cancer fundraiser was held Friday night, Fogarty knows first-hand the disruptions evening events can cause.
"We didn't get a 12 o'clock curfew. At 4:30 a.m., when they are still amplifying music and playing drums, you know what I did? I woke up and I smiled," said Fogarty. "That was something we considered when buying the place."
"I do feel for the residents and I'm not dismissing their complaints," he said. "But when you look at the big picture and what it does for city, it's a good thing."
The culture and heritage department is in the process of tallying the economic benefits of the event for a report to present to council, said director Craig Metcalf.
"We'll be following up with neighbors and park users to try to balance the inconvenience with the economic impact in the community," he said, adding "Certainly, if I were asked by council, I would support them coming back."
mminassian@orilliapacket.com
Ride for Sight gets mixed reviews
Neighbours were unhappy with burnouts, but others say the event will have a lasting positive impact on tourism
By MIRANDA MINASSIAN The Packet & Times
City officials may have high praise for the Ride for Life event held over the weekend, but reviews from residents within earshot of Tudhope Park aren't as glowing.
Stanley Crescent resident Cathy Austin is concerned that parties in the park could become the new norm.
"The noise from the stage wasn't offensive because we are used to Mariposa, but we don't want to live across from party central," she said. "I don't want to end up with a festival every weekend."
She, like other residents in the area, raised concerns about overall noise levels, as well as the volume and damage done by riders performing burnouts — an intentional spinning of the back tire while the vehicle remains stationary.
"There were hundreds of people camping there and consequently made a lot of noise," Austin said. "You can't control that, and that's why we don't want them in a residential area."
Austin also objected to the trail being closed to residents for the duration of the event.
While she isn't opposed to seeing the Ride for Sight return to Orillia, Austin would like to see the festival moved out of Tudhope Park.
"The Orillia Fairgrounds could be used or Burl's Creek. There is lots of camping space there and it is out in the country," she said. "I'm glad they are raising money for a worthwhile cause, and I don't want to take away from that, but I don't think Tudhope is the best place."
As a taxpayer, she doesn't want to see the economic benefit from the event overpower the cost that she and her neighbors have paid, Austin said.
"It isn't fair to those of us that live in the area," she said.
Shirley Kinsella, who was house sitting on Stanley Crescent during the event, mirrored all of Austin's concerns.
She also suggested the fairgrounds would be a more appropriate location, should the festival return next year.
"It was not pleasant whatsoever," she said. "The burnouts were something else. There was smoke coming over the lake."
While most riders are respectful of property and noise bylaws, there is always a minority who will act out, said Debbie Dixon, director of marketing and events for Ride For Sight Canada.
"That's why we give the city a damage deposit," said Dixon. "For people who do do burnouts, they need to know that Ride for Sight has to fix that, which goes directly against why they're here for, raising money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness."
The festival normally has a designated area for burnouts, but chose not to this year to respect the city's concerns surrounding noise issues, Dixon said.
According to Ray Merkley, director of Parks and Recreation, there were no major issues and overall damage to the park was minimal.
Calling the marks by left by riders doing burnouts "nothing major," he confirmed that Ride for Sight would pick up the tab for any repairs necessary.
"It looks good. I think the average person would have a hard time telling there was that many people in the park this weekend if you walked around there now," he said. "Obviously, any time you have that many people in a park, you are going to have trampled down grass and things like that, but nothing out of the ordinary for an event like that."
Both Coun. Michael Fogarty and Coun. Andrew Hill attended the event over the course of the weekend, and each believes the experience was a positive one overall.
Acknowledging that there were some "short-lived" issues, Fogarty believes the festival was good for the city.
"We all know we have a gem here, and I am beyond the point of try to protect it for ourselves. If we are serious about economic development, we need to develop economically, and this is a great way to do it," he said. "We put Orillia on the map with 5,000 visitors in one fell swoop. How many people know the name Orillia today that didn't know it yesterday? I'm going to say that number is substantial."
Living within earshot of ODAS Park, where an overnight cancer fundraiser was held Friday night, Fogarty knows first-hand the disruptions evening events can cause.
"We didn't get a 12 o'clock curfew. At 4:30 a.m., when they are still amplifying music and playing drums, you know what I did? I woke up and I smiled," said Fogarty. "That was something we considered when buying the place."
"I do feel for the residents and I'm not dismissing their complaints," he said. "But when you look at the big picture and what it does for city, it's a good thing."
The culture and heritage department is in the process of tallying the economic benefits of the event for a report to present to council, said director Craig Metcalf.
"We'll be following up with neighbors and park users to try to balance the inconvenience with the economic impact in the community," he said, adding "Certainly, if I were asked by council, I would support them coming back."
mminassian@orilliapacket.com
