Stratford’s Al Fresco outdoor dining initiative has returned for its third year with a few operational changes.
The Al Fresco outdoor dining initiative that helped struggling local restaurants cope with indoor-dining restrictions during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic has returned to Stratford for a third year.
At Monday’s council meeting, councilors gave their official support, along with the approval of a number of operational changes, to the program administered by Destination Stratford, the city’s tourism agency, that sees the placement of 35 recycled-plastic picnic tables in Market Square and in parkland along the south shore of Lake Victoria from May to October annually.
In accordance with a city bylaw, the Al Fresco program allows people to enjoy alcoholic beverages with takeout food from participating local restaurants on those tables, as well as on the 15 picnic tables permanently installed on Tom Patterson Island in 2020.
In addition to agreeing to have city staff monitor garbage and recycling in the Al Fresco areas this year and increase the frequency of collection if necessary, changes this year include the installation of just 17 picnic tables in Market Square, including the two accessible tables that remained in place over the winter, as non-movable fixtures instead of placing 26 tables that can be moved around to accommodate public events, as has been the case over the past two years.
“The intent behind Market Square when we first installed it is, we could have these big community events there and it would be an open space that would be flexible,” Coun. Danielle Ingram said Monday. “If we’re having these picnic tables that are non-movable fixtures, how do we still retain that original intent?”
The answer, said community services director David St. Louis, is placing these permanent tables on the square’s perimeter.
“That will allow the events co-ordinator to still plan events in Market Square. The idea behind the non-movable (tables) is they’re extremely heavy and, the more we move them, the less time they will last,” St. Louis said.
As for the remaining nine tables previously placed in Market Square, events co-ordinator Heather Denny noted in her report they would be relocated along the Lake Victoria shore parkland and on Tom Patterson Island as staff and Destination Stratford see fit.
“I see the positives of the program. I just have a concern that the tables in the parks system and mainly on Tom Patterson Island is sort of commercializing the atmosphere there,” Coun. Cody Sebben said near the end of the discussion. “I feel OK with maintaining the existing tables for this season, (but) I do have concerns with adding the additional tables.”
Ingram also asked that staff and Destination Stratford consult with the Stratford City Center Business Improvement Area before making any operational changes to the program as the season progresses to ensure downtown businesses aren’t negatively impacted.
While council didn’t budget for the Al Fresco program this year, leaving the program’s costs to Destination Stratford to cover, the city is providing in-kind support to the tune of nearly $3,000 in labor for the delivery, installation and takedown of the tables and patio umbrellas, as well as administrative costs for general oversight of the program.
Those in-kind costs do not include any additional collection of garbage and recycling, which is estimated to cost $350 per extra collection on weekdays, $470 on Saturdays and $600 on Sundays and statutory holidays.