There are few places in the city of Yorkton that have contributed to the community’s fabric more than the grandstand on the Yorkton Exhibition grounds.
It is difficult to imagine many in the city who have not sat on the old wooden bleachers at some point in their lives here.
Whether you think way back to rock concerts with Trooper and Prism, to Friday night standardbred racing, visits by the musical rides, dozens of fireworks shows, fair grandstand shows, rodeos, tractor pulls, ribfests, snowmobile races and the list could go on to pretty much fill this space on events alone.
When something fun comes along in the summer in terms of entertainment there has long been a good chance it will be held in front of the grandstand.
The structure has served the city well.
But, through the years, age was showing.
Yes, there were some cosmetic repairs done, and work done to ensure continued safety for those using it, but it was to the point it needed more than band-aids and fresh paint.
So, the Yorkton Exhibition Association took the lead in putting together a plan that would make a major rehabilitation of the grandstand feasible.
To do that they looked to the City, not for taxpayers to foot the entire bill, but to cost-share the project with the Association. It was a logical approach that made the project palatable for Yorkton Council.
It is very hard for elected officials to reject a project when a group within the community with 100-plus years of hosting events comes forward with a plan where they are willing to pay for 50 per cent of the project.
As Councillor Darcy Zaharia said at the regular meeting of Council Monday where the project was given the final green light, he liked the proposal since a city-owned asset was getting an upgrade with the Exhibition Association paying half the cost.
“I very much support it,” he said.
Mayor Bob Maloney liked the 50-cent dollars, adding Council has not turned down such projects in his time on Council.
“I think this is a terrific project,” he said.
While Zaharia and Maloney may have been on different sides of some major Council debates in the last 18-months, the grandstand project was an easy place to find some common ground for the good of the community.
Coun. Ken Chyz wanted to know Monday if the work would be done in time for the summer fair in 2021.
Whether he was being overly optimistic considering the current flare up of COVID-19 locally, one hopes the fair goes forward, and it appears the grandstand could be ready.
“We’re prepared to go to tender this week,” said Darcy McLeod Director of Community Development, Parks and Recreation, with the City, adding it is hoped it is done by spring or summer 2021, depending on if the work begins this fall.
Whether in the spring, or several months after, the refurbished grandstand is a most worthwhile endeavour, and the YEA is to be commended for its leadership, as is Council for agreeing to such a positive effort.
