Alcohol sales could be coming to Adventure Bay
RFP process will seek vendors who would be willing to sell booze at aquatic centre
The sound of ice cubes splashing into alcoholic drinks could soon join the sounds of patrons splashing in the pool at Windsor's Adventure Bay waterpark.
Windsor City Council voted to put out a Request for Proposals seeking a vendor to sell food and drink — including alcohol — at Adventure Bay at Monday's council meeting.
Staff at the waterpark requested the proposal. They say guests often ask whether they can drink alcohol during their visit.
Though there aren't any hard numbers on how many times this request comes in, city administration said it happens enough to get noticed. Selling alcohol would also help Adventure Bay compete with other waterparks in Ontario, Michigan and Ohio.
Coun. Irek Kusmiercyzk was the only city councillor to oppose the motion. He said regular Windsor users weren't consulted enough during the planning process.
"I would suggest that this would actually cause us to lose visitors," he said. "I know of several families with kids that are five or six who wouldn't take their kids to a recreation facility where alcohol is sold."
But other councillors, including Mayor Drew Dilkens noted Adventure Bay wouldn't become a bar. He compared this to other city assets including Roseland Golf Club and the WFCU Centre where patrons can drink.
Dilkens said alcohol sales would be strictly monitored and limited to specific eating areas within Adventure Bay. Alcohol would not be permitted in the pools or in the hallways of the facility.
"You need to pay $23 just to get into the facility for a day pass. If I'm going skiing I can have a beer and get back on the slopes," he said. "You can go to Roseland and have a beer during your round. You can bring your kids to Roseland."
"You can bring your kids to a Spitfires game and I can tell you exactly how much alcohol is sold there, a lot," Dilkens said.
But this move doesn't guarantee alcohol will be sold at Adventure Bay.
Vendors will now have to compete for the contract to sell concessions at the park. That proposal could include alcohol.
When that RFP process is complete, council could choose a vendor, or decide it doesn't wish to pursue the project any further.