Car lovers raced to Innisfail’s Weekend of Wheels in what organizers hope will translate into more foot traffic downtown.
The event featured all things automobile from a street show and shine of vintage beauties, old-fashioned drive-in movies to a 100-foot racing shootout in Innisfail.
Organizer Debra Stoski, a spokesperson for the newly formed Innisfail Development Enhancement Association, said this first-time event was one of many in the works to help the beautification efforts for downtown Innisfail.
The downtown association was recently formed in part to help brighten the downtown core alongside next year’s downtown revitalization plans.
Starting in 2012, the town will begin reconstructing along 50th Street in downtown Innisfail to Highway 2A.
This will include replacing all underground infrastructure including water and sewer lines.
Stoski said the group of 20 or so business owners felt this was the perfect time to come together to help paint the downtown with a welcoming and inviting look.
The pending construction, however, has some business owners anxious about lost business and reduced traffic due to the heavy construction.
Donna Melnyk, owner of Gift Loft, said the association is being proactive to ensure their businesses and the community does not lose out.
Although she said the town will retain the sidewalks during construction, Melnyk is concerned seniors may have to walk long distances from their parking spots to shop.
There’s also the added cost of potentially building a back entrance so patrons can avoid the front entrance.
“There’s lots of concerns,” said Melynk.
“It will be a real concern if they can’t keep our access in the front ... Once a small community loses the traffic, unless they do something spectacular to revitalize the area they have lost the traffic. They don’t come back.”
Studio Arts owner Carol Smith said the downtown is going to look really nice when the work is done but the waiting will be a little tough on the businesses.
Therefore, she said, a lot of the businesses are coming up with alternatives for the shoppers.
“We are working on getting our back alleys a little more attractive and putting murals on our walls,” said Smith.
“They are in the process of being done.”
Tom Lindl, also a downtown business owner, said there is a strong community in Innisfail and he was not concerned about losing business. In fact, he thinks the final outcome will draw more people to Innisfail.
“Anything that you do to improve the appearance to make it more attractive to tourists coming through,” he said.
“We are kinda a gateway to the west country for a lot of people.
“A lot of people drive through and they don’t stop because they have a destination. But if there is stuff that catches their eyes and maybe they will stop and spend some money here.”
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com