The Port Perry Agricultural Society (PPAS) in a statement to Durham Post, said it is opposed to the hiring of a private consultant by the Township of Scugog.
The consultant, Darwin Logic, was hired (see below) for a fee of about $100,000 to perform a visioning exercise to help decisions regarding the future of the 23-acre municipal park, known as the Port Perry Fairgrounds.
PPAS has been managing the fairgrounds and recently put in a request to renew their current 10-year lease, at a rental rate of $2.00 for the entire term, which is set to expire in June 2026.
The park has been in existence since since 1886. The Port Perry Agricultural Society is opposed to this move. PPAS says that “the historic site should continue to be the recreational, cultural, community gathering place, that it has been, for over a century,” said Paul Puckrin, director, PPAS board.
The park is used for assorted recreational activities and daily by joggers, walkers, dog walkers, parents looking to give their children a place to run around, and folks simply seeking some open space and solitude.
In addition to the annual Labour Day Weekend fair, the Port Perry Agricultural Society hosts numerous events over the year that include:
-The Terry Fox Run.
-The Touch a Truck Event.
-The Food Truck Festival.
-The DFRFR Farm Safety.
-The February Family Day Event.
-The Strong in Scugog Strong Event.
-The Craft Show.
-The 4-H Holstein Club.
-The Durham West 4H Judging School.
-Durham Regional Police Safety Day.
-The VE Day Celebration.
-Marshaling of the Santa Claus parade.
-Big Brothers/Big Sisters Summer Golf Camp.
-Drive in concerts for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
-Fundraising walks for ALS, and Oak Ridges Hospice. -Fundraising snowball tournaments for local organizations.
Many Uses of the Fairgrounds
The fairgrounds has provided off site parking during construction at the Port Perry Villa and the Ontario Hydro projects. It has also been used as a staging ground and base camp for numerous movie production crews.
Puckrin pointed out that the Township of Scugog uses the fairgrounds for snow storage, when clearing the town streets each winter. The Care and Share Gardeners, who donate their produce to the food banks, attend their plots on the fairgrounds throughout the growing season.
The entertainment shelter is used by dog obedience schools, cloggers and other dance schools, and the Port Perry Dukes Ukulele Club.
There have been yoga practice and aerobics. The baseball diamond is used for practices by various groups. The race track is used for training exercises by the local schools, and students gather there after school to practice their skills. The Township of Scugog Fire Department practices on the fairgrounds.
Individuals can be seen practicing their golf swing, flying kites and operating remote controlled aircraft and other remote controlled vehicles. In the winter one will see individuals cross-country skiing and kite skiing.
“All of the above activities, occur within walking distance of most of the town of Port Perry,” Puckrin pointed out.
PPAS Pays Maintenance Costs
He said PPAS has paid all of the costs of maintenance of the fairgrounds for many decades. These costs include water and sewer, electricity, garbage pickup, insurance, grass cutting, tree trimming and maintenance, upgrading electrical infrastructure, and upgrading and maintenance of all buildings and structures on the site.
The director said the Township of Scugog, and the Region of Durham have given the PPAS no financial assistance for over 20 years. Most of the PPAS’s annual income, comes from the fair, and this income in turn, supports production of the next year’s fair.
Improvements Planned
The PPAS is anxious to make improvements to the fairgrounds that would make the land even more attractive to the community, said the director.
Historically, the community has been very supportive and generous, donating labor, materials, equipment and money for projects on the fairgrounds. The PPAS has been successful in obtaining government grants for larger projects in the past.
But without a lease of at least 5, and more often 10 years, the PPAS does not qualify for government grants, and the community is understandably more hesitant to donate, when the land may be disposed of by the Township of Scugog in the relatively near future, said Puckrin.
Residents’ Survey
He said PPAS conducted a survey in August, asking folks what they would like to see on the fairgrounds.
Suggestions included, more trees, more gardens, picnic tables, a picnic shelter, a band shelter which could accommodate summer concerts and movie nights, pickle ball courts, and a sand ring (for accommodating equine events).
People requested more car shows, tractor shows, and educational events that featured agriculture, gardening and horticulture.
“The Port Perry Agricultural Society is eager to pursue all of these options, but without a lease for a reasonable length of time, it is not feasible to raise the funds required,” Puckrin said.