Mark Adams said crews would probably take the canopies down and leave them down for the winter.

AUBURN – The Festival Plaza canopies did exactly what they were supposed to when they snapped loose in Wednesday’s storm.

Each canopy was designed with a built-in weak spot – a black strap that connects the canopy to the supporting pole. Assistant City Manager Mark Adams said some of those straps broke in Wednesday’s heavy rain and wind.

“The strap is designed to break before anything else, before the pole breaks or the canopy rips,” Adams said. “That’s where most of the expense is. We have extra straps to replace the ones that broke.”

Adams said crews would probably take the canopies down and leave them down for the winter.

“This is the time of year we do that anyway,” he said. “This may just be a convenient time to do that.”

The canopies went up over Festival Plaza late last summer. They are made of tightly woven nylon mesh. The entire structure – from the poles to the fabric – was designed and made by artist Charles Duvall of Rockport for $170,000. It includes two sets of the mesh canopies.

Adams said the second set of canopies is scheduled to arrive this winter. The city will probably put the new canopies up next spring and alternate between sets each year.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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