Okay kids, so would you rather spend $200 million on a complete overhaul of Assiniboine Park or $200 million expanding the Winnipeg Convention Centre?
Which project do you think would have a more significant economic impact over the long-term?
Which project should be funded by a portion of the new hotel tax?
My vote is for the park.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: assiniboine park, City of Winnipeg, winnipeg convention centre
I’m pumped about the overhaul of Assiniboine Park … long overdue IMO. However, the park is more of a quality-of-life feature for the citizens of Winnipeg than a tourist draw for non-citizens. That’s how I see it anyhow. I don’t think a lot of people would come here to visit the park, overhauled or not. So, with respect to the hotel tax, it would make more sense to put it towards the Convention Centre, since that would have a more direct impact on the numbers of people visiting Winnipeg.
How would the convention centre cause more people to come to Winnipeg? When I was in the US or Europe I didn’t once go to a convention centre… We went to parks and restauraunts, museums and nightlife. There is so much more potential in making the Assiniboine Park a more attractive place for visitors and people in the city..
I agree 100% — put the money in the park.
In ten years, when non-Winnipeggers consider what they like about the city, I wonder what recollections are more likely to bring them back:
“Wow, that town sure has one helluva convention centre. My meetings had fashionable chairs and cool, cool water.”
“Wow, what a fantastic, beautiful city park. Next time, I’m bringing the whole family.”
I’d like bicycle racks on the front of buses so I wouldn’t risk my life getting TO the park to take a bike ride.
@Prairie Topiary – Don’t forget about the cranberries they put in the water at the WCC. That’s a classy touch.
Just sayin’ … people travel for conventions, company events, and other things that potentially take place in a convention centre. I don’t know what the ROI would be for pumping $200k into the convention centre because I haven’t looked into it, only that convention centre traffic is more closely linked to hotel occupancy than the park is.
Yes. Let’s not completely downplay the income generated by conventions. Perspective is a good thing, but completely ignoring positive outcomes is not.
That being said, I’d look forward to some details on the proposal and be very tempted to sell. Frog’s right though, the board will be lobbying against it something fierce. Need to lean on councilors to do the right thing.
I wonder where Councilor Fielding (former WCC board member) will fall on this one?
C’mon, the Park is a outdated English Garden design that doesn’t generate revenue or draw tourists in its present formation…sell the Convention Centre, implement the hotel tax, maintain but don’t overspend on the Park, spiff up the zoo, and spend the remaining of the $200 million elsewhere….
Heck, there are too many former and current WCC Board Members who enjoy(ed) the perks who are now City Councillors to let this potential sale happen.