IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Lake Antoine Park Partners (LAPP) board, after assessing conditions on the park’s grounds on February 26, made the difficult decision to cancel their planned kite-flying event scheduled for the weekend of March 8th. Concerns over safety arose due to the mild winter, which had adversely affected the thickness of the ice on Lake Antoine.
Despite efforts to monitor the ice and consider various forecasts, the unseasonably warm temperatures led to melting ice and unsafe conditions. With daytime temperatures reaching the 40s and overnight lows failing to sufficiently freeze the ice, the risk to both participants and the public became too great, as the kite-flying event is intended to take place over a frozen lake.
The possibility of significant ice shoves and the potential for muddy areas on the beach and lawn added to the safety concerns. The cancellation marks a disappointment for the community, as the event, known as KOALA (Kites Over Awesome Lake Antoine), had gained momentum over the past two years, drawing in hundreds of spectators to see the Wisconsin Kiters Club, and attracting around 20 proud new sponsors this year.
The economic impact of the cancellation is significant, with an estimated loss of at least $20,000 dollars in funding from local businesses that contributed to make the event free and open to the public. However, LAPP remains optimistic about the future and looks forward to hosting an even bigger and better event in 2025, provided weather conditions cooperate. They express gratitude to the sponsors who had generously supported the event and assure them that they’ll be contacted about their contributions.
