RFP Staff
♦ In what must have been a disappointing day for both sliders and Downtown Salisbury Inc., Salisbury’s “Slide the City” was plagued from the start by low water pressure, disappointing attendance (an estimated 250 to 300 attendees tops all day), and many areas of the slide so shallow that people had to get up an walk many yards to find a place to begin sliding again.
Chuck Hughes of Salisbury showed up to watch the sliders and was taken back by the low attendence. He estimated between 250 and 300 people max showed up all day for the event. Others called us and came came up with estimates between 200 and 300 throughout the day. Drone shots and photographs taken over the course of the day verified this estimation.
The alleged 2000 tickets reported sold did not come close to matching the minimal number of actual attendees. Surely Slide the City and Downtown Salisbury Inc. absorbed a loss.
We applaud Downtown Salisbury Inc. for going forward with venture in spite of numerous red flags from dozens of cities across the United States who cancelled the Slide the City and TV News exposes who slammed the “Slide”.
Some youngsters and adults appeared to enjoy themselves despite the many shallow areas of the slide where people were forced to get up and walk to find a slide worthy surface. Persons attending the slip and slide were calling it “Walk the City”.
The Slide the City volunteers worked feverishly against the clock to set up the 1,000 yard slide, belly high metal fences, and bringing in two Salisbury Fire Department pumper trucks, on either side of the street, to overcome the city’s low water pressure. The Fire Department saved the day from being a fiasco.
Injuries occurred mostly from impact hits in the right lane. People limped away from the slide. Others sported cuts and abrasions from being spilled on South Main Street or being rammed by persons speeding down the first incline. One fellow was grimacing and holding his shoulder after a blow. Surprisingly only a few drunks showed up mostly in the late afternoon.
Here are numerous photos taken by folks in Salisbury and Rowan County:
A drone photograph of the line leading up to the start of the slide:
Drone photograph of the 1,000 yard slide:
The Salisbury Fire Department attempts to compensate for city’s low water pressure:
“Slide the City” volunteer says hello to RFP photographer:
Shallow stretches of the 1,000 yard slide:
The start of the slide:
Photos of the slide from noon to 4:45 p.m.:
