Concerts on Halifax Common to continue

Thebands will play on at the Halifax Common after Halifax regional council overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to ban major concerts from the park after this year.

Coun. Jennifer Watts's motion was defeated 19-2 in a vote Tuesday. There was no debate.

"We were willing to give it a try," said Watts. "We didn't want to be naysayers, but after the experience of the past couple of years, we feel this is not an appropriate use."

Thousands of people have descended on the park in recent years to see the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Kiss and other performers. A country music festival is scheduled for August, and an announcement is expected next week about a rock concert this summer.

Watts feelslarge concerts are too disruptive to people who live around the Common. They also damage the fields and interrupt the schedules for softball and baseball leagues, she said.

Watts, who represents Connaught-Quinpool, said the Garrison Grounds on Citadel Hill is a more suitable site.

Improvements approved

Her fellow councillors made it clear Tuesdaythey don't share her opinions.

Immediately after voting down Watts's proposal,council voted in favour of a $3.5-million plan to enhance the Common, including the addition of a permanent power supply that staff say will save the municipality $50,000 on generators every time a big concert is staged.

The park will also have more trees and benches, better lighting and wider walking paths. There will also be a permanent bandshell or rotunda to serve as a venue for smaller concerts.

Under this plan, large concert stages will sit along the corner of North Park and Cogswell streets, which promoters like because it means no more free seats on Citadel Hill.

Coun. Dawn Sloane, whovoted for Watts's motion,said it's important to make the park more user-friendly and safe at night.

"I'm hoping that we do find a better place some day [for concerts]," Sloane said earlier Tuesday. "It would be great to have a stadium where we could have all the events we could ever think of. But I don't think we can afford that right now."