The future of Christmas in Williams Park will be up for discussion between 91原创 Township council, organizers, and residents of the area over the next few months.

The annual event, which has run for more than 30 years, involves light displays in the park. Drivers head through the loop to view them, and the organizers collect donations that are used to replace or add lights for each year of the show.

After last year鈥檚 event was almost scuttled due to the Township considering withdrawing staff support to set up and take down the displays, council has decided to talk to organizers about a wide variety of issues, including traffic concerns, funding, and who will be responsible for the displays in the future.

鈥淚 love this event, I鈥檝e gone to it my whole entire life, but there鈥檚 some realities here that we can鈥檛 overlook any longer,鈥� said Councillor Misty vanPopta.

Traffic and accessibility to the neighbourhood were at the top of her list of concerns.

Williams Park is only accessible to vehicles by 70A Avenue off 232nd Street. It鈥檚 nestled in a rural neighbourhood of acreages and small farms, with only one way in and out.

Last year, Christmas in Williams Park grew so popular that sometimes traffic backed up all the way onto 232nd Street and impacted the nearby highway interchange 鈥� a distance of more than two kilometers from the park.

VanPopta noted that this caused issues for residents of the area, and some people drove down the wrong side of the road to try to get around the lengthy lines of cars.

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She worries about what happens when the highway interchange is demolished for reconstruction work.

鈥淔or the next two Christmases, we鈥檙e going to have that interchange under construction,鈥� vanPopta said.

Getting info from the residents was key, she said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e doing it early enough this year where we can survey those residents,鈥� said vanPopta.

Other councillors agreed that now is the time to start serious discussions, including Coun. Tim Baillie, who asked council to defer a decision until at least May.

Township staff will work with the organizers and survey residents to gather input.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 going to take a couple of months,鈥� Baillie said.

Baillie also hoped to see a budget from the Christmas in Williams Park organization. With sufficient donations and a large base of support 鈥� up to 35,000 visitors last year 鈥� he was hopeful that they could organize volunteers to set up and take down the lights ever year.

Mayor Eric Woodward said that the Township taking over the event was not off the table, noting it took place in a Township park and had used Township staff for set up duties for the last several years.

Council voted unanimously in favour of the deferral to gather info and consult.

The matter will be back before the council on Monday, May 13.