Downtown Paris Promenade wraps up summer of events with Riverfest
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Casandra Turnbull
Managing Editor
What began as a way to make the most of a necessary downtown road closure turned into a summer-long experiment in transforming the heart of Paris into a pedestrian gathering place.
The Downtown Paris Promenade opened in early July along a closed section of Grand River Street North, offering residents and visitors a car-free space filled with seating, games, entertainment and community programming throughout the summer.
The County of Brant Economic Development and Tourism team said the idea grew directly out of the ongoing Downtown Dig reconstruction project.
“As part of the construction on Grand River Street North, this section of the street had to be closed. With the street closure this created an opportunity to program this space and help attract both residents and visitors downtown,” the team said in an email to the Paris Independent.
That opportunity ultimately produced nearly two months of activities designed to give people another reason to visit downtown Paris, linger a little longer and support businesses navigating the disruption of a major reconstruction project.
Programming included the Downtown Paris Art Crawl, street markets featuring local artisans, a movie night and vintage market, along with recurring weekly activities. Music Mondays brought performers Brandon Dean, Liam McGarry, Lisa Warren, Onion Honey, Michael Bryan, Daelin Henschel and Chaz & Todd to the promenade over the summer. Wellness Wednesdays featured Zumba and yoga, while Urban Cowboy brought line dancing downtown on Thursdays.
The summer's largest celebration arrived this weekend with Riverfest, which took advantage of ideal late-August weather for two days of festivities.
The second annual Block Party kicked things off Friday evening with live music throughout the night and a beer garden hosted by Paris Beer Co. Michael Bryan and Ty Baynton entertained the crowd, along with Pynx Prodcution DJ and a special appearance from Core Dance Project.
Activities continued Saturday with a full day of family-friendly entertainment. Visitors could try their hand at cornhole and ping pong, take part in arts and crafts and face painting, listen to live music from Ben Sommer, Florin Clonta, and Michael Bryan or enjoy the bouncy castle and other activities spread throughout the promenade. The Grand River Conservation Authority and GrandBridge Energy were also among those offering interactive games and activities at their booths.
Riverfest served as the final major weekend celebration on the promenade, but programming isn't quite finished.
The promenade itself will remain in place for another two weeks before being dismantled Sept. 14 to allow outstanding work associated with Phase 1 of the Downtown Dig to proceed.
“The Promenade is scheduled to be dissembled on September 14th. Our goal is to keep it in place as long as possible for patrons to enjoy with good weather, while also not impeding the construction schedule, as final elements in Phase 1 still require completion,” the Economic Development and Tourism team said.
While conceived as a response to construction, the promenade also gave the County an opportunity to see how residents, visitors and businesses would respond to a pedestrian-focused downtown space.
According to the County, the response has included calls to make the concept an annual attraction.
“We have heard from many residents and visitors who appreciated the opportunity to enjoy a pedestrian-friendly downtown environment, participate in community programming, attend special events, and spend time in public gathering spaces,” the team said. “Many have expressed that the promenade created a vibrant atmosphere and encouraged people to spend more time exploring downtown. The comment we have heard most from visitors is "can this be every year in Downtown Paris?"”
Downtown businesses also became part of the programming, with the County pointing to special events and markets hosted by businesses including the Rustic Palm, Le Petite Marche and Big Cityyy Arts.
Whether the promenade will return, however, remains an open question.
The County considers this year's initiative something of a pilot and plans to review feedback from businesses, residents, visitors, community partners and staff before deciding whether similar downtown activations could be considered in the future. Any decision would have to consider factors ranging from community support and impacts on businesses to traffic, staffing, funding and operational feasibility.
The experiment came with a price tag of approximately $43,000, funded through a combination of County money, sponsorships and provincial support.
The County contributed $15,000 through its capital budget, money intended to support businesses during the Downtown Dig. Another $13,000 came from sponsorships, while $15,000 was provided through Ontario's Rural Economic Development Program. Riverfest also received a separate grant through Experience Ontario.
Community organizations and sponsors also provided financial and in-kind support, programming assistance and volunteers. Some of the physical investments made for the promenade won't disappear when the street reopens either, with picnic tables, recreational equipment and the tourism chair among the items that will be repurposed for County use.
For now, the County says it is too early to determine whether Paris will see another promenade next summer. But after a season of music, markets, dancing, recreation and community events, the response to this year's temporary transformation will become part of that discussion.
“The County views community partnerships as an important part of delivering initiatives such as the promenade, helping to maximize the experience for residents and visitors while leveraging support from local organizations and businesses,” the team said.
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