Mackinaw City Will Again Permit Summer Triathlon
By Paul Gingras

Following debate at its Thursday, December 20 meeting, the Mackinaw City Village Council voted to allow the Mackinaw Multi Sport Mix, a midsummer triathlon, to be staged at Chief Wawatam Park in 2008, despite problems associated with the race the past three years.

It is a reversal of a council decision in late summer 2007, when members voted to send a letter to the triathlon's sponsor, 3 Disciplines Racing of Colorado, telling the company to move the race to another location or cancel the event.

Council members had objected to staging the event at Wawatam Park, just north of the downtown district, citing parking congestion, complaints by area businesses, and verbal abuse by racers, allegedly directed at residents.

In addition to its new ruling, Mackinaw City's concerns will be included in a letter to the company, said Trustee Jeff Hingston.

Adding signs and manned barricades will be a relatively easy way to ensure that employee parking is not filled with vehicles owned by racers or spectators, a problem noted at past triathlons, said Village Manager Jeff Lawson, however, downtown congestion is not easy to remedy. The event is large, he said, and there is no doubt that it is a disruption in the village.

"For this company, it is one of their prime events," Mr. Lawson said. "Because of our location, it is growing for them, so, naturally, it is important to them."

Mr. Lawson said he knows of no way to separate race spectators who park their cars downtown, and are there only for the race, from spectators who patronize area businesses.

The council's latest decision was made in response to a letter from the race company, which protested the council's earlier decision, insisting that the triathlon is a benefit to Mackinaw City by drawing 200 athletes and their families to the village, where they vacation for the weekend.

"These families do not just drive to Mackinaw Sunday morning, race, and leave," said Kenny Krell of the company. "Ninety percent of the athletes are in Mackinaw City for the entire weekend, not passing by, or passing through. These are entire families spending the weekend, spending money in the stores, staying in the hotels, and eating in the restaurants. They are not trouble makers. They are not drinking and causing problems. Ninety percent of them pick this event to do because it is in Mackinaw, and they can make it a vacation for the entire family."

Whether the triathlon is an economic boon for the village is questionable. Mr. Hingston and City Police Chief Patrick Wyman said they have received complaints by business owners, some of whom say they have lost customers owing to a lack of parking during the event.

Although Mr. Hingston has noted his opposition to the triathlon at past meetings, he said there is no doubt that some of the spectators spend money in the village and said he is willing to give the company one more chance.

President Ronald Wallin questioned whether the event could be staged farther from downtown Mackinaw City.

The downtown site is preferred by the racers, Mr. Lawson said, because of the water depth and cleanliness at Chief Wawatam Park, which participants need for the swimming portion of the race.