Windmill City Festival to stay in downtown Batavia

Batavia's Windmill City Festival will be held at the Riverwalk this summer, after all.

The Batavia Park District announced Thursday that plans to move the July 9-12 party to Engstrom Family Park on Main Street, near Batavia High School, were scrapped.

The three-day party normally takes place at the Riverwalk, with the carnival rides setting up on Houston Street, which usually closes from Water Street to Island Avenue.

But the city plans to rebuild Houston. The work, however, has been delayed, and won't start until late July or in August.

"It was an easy decision to return the festival to where it truly belongs - at the heart of the Batavia Riverwalk," park Executive Director Allison Niemela said in a news release. "All of our partners involved are very pleased, and we truly feel the residents will benefit immensely."

The city and the Batavia Chamber of Commerce also sponsor the event.

Windmill City Festival grew out of a long-ago merchant-run event called Boo-Boo Days. During that time, downtown stores had sidewalk sales and other promotions; the "boo-boos" might be refurbished items or overstocks.

Moving the festival back to the Riverwalk means there will once again be the Golf Challenge at Depot Pond, with golfers trying to make it on to a floating green 50 to 75 yards away from the shoreline. The Windmill Whirl 5K will be run downtown instead of on streets and cornfields near Engstrom Family Park.

The reconstruction of Houston, from Batavia to Island avenues, is part of Batavia's multiyear streetscape update plan. The design is being finalized, so the project hasn't been let for bid yet. The street, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and a part of a recreational trail will be rebuilt.