OTTAWA - At least 40 delegations have signed up to speak at a finance and economic development committee hearing on Tuesday over the future of Lansdowne Park.
A proposal by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group is at the heart of the meeting. The group wants to take over the remainder of the city assets and programming at the park, which would include the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticulture Building.
The plan is supported by city staff, but not everyone is on board. On Tuesday morning, dozens gathered outside Ottawa City Hall to protest the proposal ahead of the committee hearing. Ottawa councillor Shawn Menard says he wants to see public consultations surrounding the proposal. He is hoping OSEG, the city and the community can reach an agreement on the local programming at the park.
“It’s been in public hands for 130 years, programmed publicly. We certainly have subsidized a lot of that site already. The stadium is rented for a dollar a year. We don’t want to lose those 100 free events a year, the Farmer’s Market, 613flea, these are things to be maintained in a robust new vision for Lansdowne,” said Menard on CTV Morning Live Ottawa on Monday.
OSEG says by taking control over Lansdowne Park, more people would attend established and new events there.
