Blockhouse Island is Brockville's premier waterfront park and a favorite place for visitors to and residents of Brockville to enjoy the waterfront. It is home to the City's Municipal Marina, the Brockville Tourism Information Office as well as the departure point for 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises and home to the Crow's Nest Riverside Bistro, a new restaurant and long established dairy parlor.

The 1000 Islands International Regatta (Hydroplane Races) are again requesting the City of Brockville permission to close off Blockhouse Island for the purpose of controlling vehicular and pedestrian access to the park, such as to hold an exclusive event for the attendees of the hydroplane races or those willing to pay the admission charge.

The weekend in question (June 27 - 29) represents one of the busiest tourism weekends in the City, with many people bridging that weekend with Canada Day, the following Tuesday, for an extended weekend getaway. Previous Hydroplane Events in 2012 and 2013 have had a negative impact on attendance at the Cruise Line in the order of a 50% and in 2013 the Crow's Nest estimated a 65% decrease in business, as tourists and local patrons could simply not access these businesses.

Since the Event's inception, some six years ago, the Event has struggled to draw a significant audience as is evidenced by their year-to-year financial position. Despite moving the event to the end of June in 2012, they continue to struggle. I have attached a photo from the 2013 event, which clearly illustrates the low attendance. Additionally, the event also requires the closure of Centeen Park for the purposes of launching and hauling the boats and the east end of Water Street is impassible with the parking of boats and trailers of the participating racing teams, much to the dismay of the residents along the street.

It is my position that the Hydroplane Races could continue to operate from the grounds at Armagh Sifton-Price Park (the grassy area south of the Railway Tunnel) thereby negating the need to close off Blockhouse Island. Furthermore, some screening could be erected along the east seawall of Block House Island such that the view of the races could be obscured to people attending the Island and discouraging people from watching the races without paying the fee to attend.

Admittedly this will cost some money to the Event organizers but, it is significantly less that the cost being inflicted on the two businesses operating on Blockhouse Island. Moreover, the park can remain open for the benefit of Marina occupants, the residents of Brockville and Visitors to enjoy on one of the busiest weekends of the summer!

In 2014, 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in Brockville and over that time we have hosted over half a million visitors to the City and we continue to strive to earn Brockville its rightful place on the 1000 Islands Tourism Landscape. In 2013, we opened the Crow's Nest Riverside Bistro with a view to creating a more tourist friendly environment on the Island. We are significant tenants of the City, paying approximately $50,000 in rent and taxes and contribute many times that through employment and economic spin-offs to the community annually.

I would hope that after 20 years of promoting the Community my concerns would be heard however, I was informed last week that the City Staff Report to the City's EDP Committee is expected to support the Event Organizers' application to close-off Blockhouse Island despite my appeal. So, I am reaching out to friends and the Community to assist me in garnering support of my position. Please share with your friends and others in Brockville and help me bring the practice of closing access to Blockhouse Island to an end! Thank you!