Published: June 29, 2008 12:14 am            

MARREN: Concerts are here, so what’s next?

Because of our deadlines at the newspaper, I’m writing this column on Friday, before the first Molson Canal Concert. So, I’m writing with out knowing how the first one went, but I’ll assume it was just as great as we expected.

But, now that the first one is out of the way, what’s next?

Politics and running a city is like sports and business. It’s a “what have you done for me lately?” undertaking. Lockport residents, despite the canal concerts, will soon be asking, “what have you done for us lately.” It’s the mentality of most everyone.

Despite all the good that may come our way, we’re always looking for more. It’s for that reason that I don’t envy the mayor or the Common Council one bit.

So, let’s put our thinking caps on and start planning the next major announcement for Lockport. Summer events may seem easy, but I’m sure they’re not. Still, the city has some great summer events, even before the concerts were added.

Where Lockport struggles is the fall and winter seasons, which makes up like 14 of 12 months a year. There’s the Light Up Lockport festival, and shows at the Kenan Center and the Palace, but again, we need more. We need to draw the masses expected for the concerts, during the winter months.

The ice rink idea is a great one. It would draw tournaments and rink rentals, all the while exposing the city when it wouldn’t be otherwise. It’s an ice rink, so it’s prime for the winter months, but if what’s being proposed is a multipurpose facility, then it’s good to go year-round.

Here’s another wintertime activity: How about a few weeks of holiday lights, like the former Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls. I know Oppenhiem Park in Wheatfield picked up the displays and has a show in the park during the wintertime, but Lockport could do the same, or even better with Outwater Park or one of the 32 other parks in the city.

I can remember going to the Festival of Lights as a kid and it was great. The crowds were there, plus the Grand Niagara hockey team ran a tournament that coincided with the festival, so there was a ton of people in town.

Build a rink, put in some lights — that’ll get a few people to town during the off-season.

What else could we do? What else could we do that’s unique where people would say: Are you going to Lockport this weekend?

Again, the concerts will be a huge cash cow, but what’s next?

What can we do to put Lockport on the map during the winter months? Now’s the time to get the ball rolling.

Managing Editor Tim Marren’s column appears every Sunday. He blogs daily at lockportjournal.com/blogs. He can be reached at 439-9222, ext. 6238, or marrent@gnnewspaper.com.

        

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