Students swarming Marshall St. on St. Patrick’s Day all part of the plan: Waterloo’s mayor

Why did the students cross King St. on St. Patrick's Day? To party on Marshall instead.

For the second-straight year, fencing on Ezra Ave. set-up the night before St. Patrick's Day saw students choosing to party on Marshall St. instead, and it's renewed criticism the city and police may have forgotten — students have feet.

It also comes as questions are once again being asked about the time and money spent trying to deter the annual unsanctioned street party when those efforts, at least at first glance, appear ineffective.

“We're disappointed that so many people gathered once again [on Marshall St.], but we weren't surprised by it,” said Waterloo mayor Dorothy McCabe. “We wish this kind of unsanctioned gathering wouldn't occur [and] yes, it does take up a lot of our time and energy.”

But, as the old saying goes, if wishes were horses then beggars would ride, and the mayor said there isn't really much the city or police can do to stop it.

The question then becomes why waste time and money trying to stop it from happening on Ezra, when students can simply cross the street? McCabe, answering with a suggestion that was all part of the plan.

“Ezra Street's difficult to get in and out of in case of emergency,” McCabe said, “One of the goals, in terms of fencing off Ezra St. was to have [students] move to another location, like Marshall.”

“Having them over on Marshall Street — or if they had chosen some other area — it's much easier to access in case there's emergency situations or safety issues that arise,” she continued.

So, operationally, McCabe said it was essentially mission success despite how it may look at first blush.

She also went on to suggest this may continue to be the plan moving forward.

“We're going to have to continue to work with paramedics, by-law, the two universities, the college, and the police to just manage this event as best we can.”