Windsor city council to weigh in on plan to build $13.5M waterfront canopy

A multimillion-dollar plan to add some shade and shelter to a Windsorwaterfront venue is going before Windsor city council.

Councillors are expected to weigh in on Oct. 4 on a proposalto build a canopy over Riverfront Festival Plaza on Riverside Drive. The motion before council asks them toendorse the project's final design and refer the project to next year's capital budget.

Overall, it's estimated the plan to revitalize thearea will be $32.5 million, with the canopy itself coming in at $13.5 million.

The canopy,with a capacity of5,000 people, would be built next to the existingstage.

Mayor Drew Dilkens said on Twitter the "unique" design has a translucent roof that will ensure the show goes on rain or shine, while the temperature remains comfortable for spectators.

"This is about dreaming big as a city with an eye to the future,"he said in histweet.

A report on the project contained in the upcoming city councilagenda states that in addition to providing shelter above, the dome-like canopy will becreated to allow south winds in the summer while mitigating south-west winds in winter.

"Acoustics and noise studies were also conducted to improve the quality of sound for the audience by evenly distributing sound under the canopy, blocking the environmental noise from the outside (especially road noise), and reducing the noise attenuation to the outside through the overall shape and selection of materials."