The Town of Minto is looking for local service organizations to share in a cash bonanza expected to be generated by providing parking for the Saugeen Summer Nights (SSN) concert series here, June 13-15.
With up to 12,000 visitors per day expected to attend the event at the fairgrounds in Harriston the municipality has come up with a parking plan that would see local non-profit groups benefit from providing staff to operate parking lots at Harriston Industrial Park and the former Harriston Senior School property.
In an April 18 report to council, Minto chief building official Terry Kuipers noted the town worked with the Clifford Rotary Club to provide parking for the 2010 SSN concert in Clifford. However, he noted there were a number of logistical differences between the Clifford event and the one planned for Harriston. Kuipers noted traffic enters Harriston from four directions, rather than two in Clifford, parking areas are further from the concert site and there is additional potential for congestion at the stoplight during a busy summer weekend. The attendance in Harriston is also expected to be double that at the Clifford event, Kuipers noted.
In addition to the lots at the industrial park and at the school, parking will be provided by Harriston Motors in a lot operated by local firefighters. Kuipers states the three lots could accommodate approximately 3,000 vehicles. In addition, 30 barrier free parking spaces will be provided on the concert grounds for those who cannot physically walk from the outside lots. Walking routes from the industrial park lot on the northend of town have been designed to “as fast as possible to get people to the Main Street where there’s adequate lighting and wide sidewalks,” said Kuipers. He noted the plan has the added advantage of moving people directly through the downtown business area.
Plans are also in place to alert traffic outside the area about potential delays, providing the opportunity to seek alternate routes.
Kuipers said that $10 will be charged for parking, with $7 going to the selected non-profit groups and $3 to the town. He estimated parking charges could total upwards of $84,000 over the three days of the concert. A notice posted on the town’s website invites groups to apply to operate one of the lots as a fundraiser by May 6.
So far, nine acts have been announced for the concert series, headlined by country music star Reba McEntire.
