The show will go on in Port Hope when it comes to the candlelight walk and Santa Claus parade later this month, a spokesperson for the municipality says.
Kate Ingram, the Municipality of Port Hope’s communications manager, said the municipality is moving forward following the damage caused by footprints on the freshly poured sidewalks on the south side of Walton Street over the weekend of November 16 and 17.
The incident happened as Port Hope is aiming to wind down the second phase of its major reconstruction work in the downtown core in time for annual Christmas celebrations.
“The candlelight walk (November 29) and the Santa Claus parade (November 30) are currently on track to proceed as planned,” Ingram confirmed in an email to kawarthaNOW.
“Municipal staff and Clearway Construction have just finalized an approach for repairing the damage to the newly poured sidewalks on the south side of Walton Street,” she added. “Repair work is already underway, and sections that cannot be fixed will be removed and re-poured.”
“While we don’t have the exact date of the removal and re-pouring, the process will take approximately three days to complete: one day for removal and preparation, one day for pouring new concrete, and one day for curing.”
She said those three days may not be consecutive.
Construction crews will be monitoring the newly poured sidewalks, and the repair work “will not be at an additional cost to the municipality.”
“Crews and municipal staff continue to work hard to ensure the sidewalks are ready in time for the candlelight walk,” Ingram said.
The candlelight festival on Friday, November 29 is intended to mark the completion of phase two of the Walton Street reconstruction and kick off the holidays with the candlelight walk and a tree-lighting ceremony in the park.
“The holiday spirit continues on November 30 with the 88th annual Santa Claus parade,” the municipality noted on its Facebook page. “This year’s theme is Miracle on Walton Street — a fitting title for all that was accomplished this year. Gather your friends, come downtown, and celebrate the season.”
Construction crews are also continuing with the removal and preparation work for the north sidewalks on Walton Street.
“Though it may look a little chaotic, downtown remains open and ready to welcome you,” the municipality noted.
The substantial reconstruction project, which has been called crucial for the future of the historic downtown, targets enhancing pedestrian accessibility, improving road safety, and modernizing the downtown area’s infrastructure.
