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Mayor gives two thumbs up for Summer in the Park

Questions as to the size and budget of Summer in the Park were put to rest this past weekend.
Questions as to the size and budget of Summer in the Park were put to rest this past weekend.

With both attendance and revenues on a much larger scale than in previous years, it seems as though North Bay has finally found its fit for it's annual summer festival.

While always concerned about over spending or under performing, this time, it seems as though Summer in the Park has reached it's proverbial sweet spot.
 
This weekend honed in on a perfect mix of music and entertainment and presented a good value to North Bay and to tourists.

Councillor Sean Lawlor, Head of Community Services, says that both the committee and the public are ecstatic with the way the weekend turned out.

"Everyone worked extremely hard over a short period of time, from about January, February, until now to pull this off," says Councillor Lawlor.

While Lawlor says that the Committee doesn't yet know the exact number of wristbands that were sold, he conservatively estimates that around 6,000 tickets were bought this past weekend.

"We had great crowds down on Friday, great crowds down on Saturday," he says. "We probably pumped around 11,000 people through the Waterfront in a couple of days."

"That's on top, of course, the jam packed Lee Park area through the entire weekend."

While organizers were hoping to sell 10,000 wristbands, Lawlor says that the most important thing is that the city breaks even or generates enough money to put in the bank for next year, which he's confident will happen.

While not making the amount of money wanted on wristband sales, Lawlor says that the city generated income in other areas that weren't anticipated.

By all accounts, he says that this year's Summer in the Park was a huge success, with very few minor complaints that can all be worked on for next year.

"I am confident that "Summer in the Park, 2012, will become a reality."

While the city is still waiting to hear the exact numbers of wristband sales and committee recommendations in order to possibly expand next year's festival budget, North Bay Mayor Al MacDonald agrees that the Summer in the Park weekend was, from a community standpoint, an absolute winner.

The mayor says that he's heard of estimates of 20,000 to 30,000 people down at Lee Park and at the Waterfront.

"I just know that it was full," he says.

MacDonald , who worked the gates on both concert nights, says it was heartwarming to see individuals that came in from as far as Sarnia, as well as Barrie, New Liskard and Sudbury for the event.

"I'm very pleased," says MacDonald.

"As the Mayor of the City of North Bay, it's something that I fully support.”

"Absolutely, there will be another Summer in the Park next year."