Councillors have raised some concerns about a proposal to host a truck and tractor pull at Wallace Cumming Park in Alma.
At the April 23 meeting, councillor Neil Driscoll advised council members the Alma Optimist Club is interested in holding pulls at the park in Alma and had approached him with questions about the process for getting approval.
Driscoll explained the group is interested in moving to the Alma site a pull held at the Grand River Raceway in Elora in previous years. Driscoll said “there are a lot of things happening at the raceway,” which could affect the future of such events at that site.
Public works director Larry Lynch pointed out the park is a municipal facility, making it council’s call on any events held there.
“It is a township park. It is our responsibility. At the end of the day I would say there has to be council approval for anything that happens in that park,” said Lynch.
Mayor Bruce Whale commented that “while it might be a pretty good idea,” to host a pull there, the park has historically been used as “more of a passive play area.”
Councillor Jim Curry questioned the need to create a new facility for such events in Mapleton.
“We have a facility for this type of activity within the township and I feel we should ask them to take a look at the existing facility (at the Drayton fairgrounds) first,” said Curry.
CAO Patty Sinnamon pointed out Wallace Cumming Park “is much different than the facility that you have in Drayton.”
While noting a tractor pull could be a “great fundraiser,” Lynch wondered “when the tractor pull is over, what do you do with that facility, at that park?”
Sinnamon pointed out, “There is nothing preventing the Optimist Club of Alma from hosting the event in Drayton.”
Lynch also pointed out while the township has a plan on the books for development of the park, there are “a number of conflicting plans out there.” He suggested bringing all the stakeholders together for a discussion on the future of the park.
One group with an interest in the park’s future is the Alma Recreation Association, which hosted a Pulled Pork Hootenanny at the Alma Community Centre as a fundraiser and park information night on April 26.
The event included an update on plans for a memory arboretum and labyrinth at the park.
Driscoll reiterated the Optimists just wanted direction on who to approach about the plan for the tractor pull.
Council agreed the group should approach them and make a presentation.
