The city’s See You on the Patio program is being expanded to include Saturday evenings.
At a special meeting Tuesday, council supported a recommendation from the Economic Recovery Task Force (ERTF) that will see the program in place on Saturdays from 5 to 11 p.m. It will run from July 3 to Sept. 4.
In October 2020, council approved the 2021 See You on the Patio program for Friday nights only. However, when the province announced its reopening plan last month, indoor dining was still off the table until Step 3 of the plan.
That has the “potential to negatively impact businesses during what is typically their busiest season,” said Laura Thompson, the city’s senior manager of business development.
“In response to this, several restaurateurs requested the ERTF, the city and the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DOMB) to reconsider a Saturday evening downtown street closure,” Thompson wrote in a report to council.
“This street closure would primarily take place on Mississaga Street from Front Street to Albert Street, and could include Peter Street from Colborne to Mississaga Street East if sufficient engagement from businesses can be achieved.”
Most downtown businesses were supportive of the program’s expansion, but Thompson noted some were concerned about the decrease in vehicular traffic and how that would affect their operations.
“The DOMB did have mixed reviews on the street closures,” she said. “There are some retailers who say that they do still rely on (vehicular traffic).”
The 2020 program was largely well received by those who responded to a survey, especially visitors. Ninety per cent “agreed that they enjoyed visiting patios in general.” A list of survey results can be found at the end of this article.
There was little discussion Tuesday about the expansion, but Coun. David Campbell expressed his support for it.
“I think it’s going to be great for the city, especially with the timeline for indoor dining with the province,” he said. “We have to do what we can to keep our businesses going.”
Council also approved pulling $15,000 from the social assistance and economic recovery COVID-19 emergency relief reserve to go toward marketing as well as staff support for the street closure.
The DOMB has agreed to provide $5,255 to cover 50 per cent of the cost of labour and security for the expansion of the See You on the Patio program.
Thompson’s report outlined the following benefits the program has for restaurants and retailers across the city:
- A See You on the Patio Tripvia Tours app will be created and will inform people about patios in the city
- The city is funding an animation program for which all patios in the city will be eligible
- A marketing campaign will promote restaurant patios that are open every day of the week, not just on Friday and Saturday nights
- The ERTF is looking into putting signage on cycling trail entrances to the city to draw attention to local restaurants and retailers
Results from the 2020 See You on the Patio program survey:
- 98 per cent (418)of post-event survey respondents said they took part in at least one component of the See You on the Patio program
- 90 per cent of visitors agreed that they enjoyed visiting patios in general
- 75 per cent enjoyed shopping in the downtown core when the street was closed to traffic.
- 44 per cent of visitors who answered the survey visited a restaurant patio outside of the downtown area
- 59 per cent of business respondents extended their hours during the program
- 59 per cent of participating businesses agreed the program allowed them to increase their sales
- 64 per cent of participating businesses agreed the program increased awareness of their business
- Anecdotally, members of the ERTF who participated in the event heard from attendees that the program lifted their mood and allowed them to meet with friends and family in a safe environment
- Many attendees noted that the program and extended hours of retail establishments allowed them to visit stores and restaurants that they otherwise hadn’t had the chance to visit.
- The animation program supported 33 unique opportunities for local artists and performers
Source: City of Orillia
