Residents living near Waterloo’s university district say unsanctioned St. Patrick’s Day celebrations over the weekend left them dealing with property damage, public urination and crowds that made it difficult to leave their homes. Police had anticipated large gatherings in the area and blocked off streets that have historically attracted thousands of students, especially along Ezra Avenue. But partygoers moved to nearby streets, where crowds grew through the day. By late Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people had gathered along Marshall Street, with many sporting green attire and drinking in the street as police maintained a visible presence nearby. Some students attending the festivities said the celebrations are a longstanding tradition. “Come here, get drunk, party on the streets, go to house parties and stuff,” said Lucas Sasvari, who was visiting from out of town. Others were confident the celebrations would continue despite police efforts to restrict access to certain streets. “I think the party is still going to go on,” said Zachary McGugan, another visitor to the area. But residents living nearby say the gatherings are becoming increasingly disruptive. People living at Oakwood Manor, an apartment building near Marshall Street, said large crowds surrounded the building. Residents described partygoers climbing over fences, knocking some down entirely and leaving garbage behind. “They’re destroying private property, but they don’t care,” said Debra Hines, who lives in the area. Residents also said they saw people urinating in the parking lot. “They were [also] coming and stepping on people’s cars,” said Janet Peterson, another resident. Bridget Kocher, who also lives in the building said the repeated street parties leave residents confined to their homes several times a year. “It leaves us as citizens trapped in our homes for what is it — four times a year? Three times a year? St. Paddy’s, homecoming, whatever it is,” she said. Police eventually moved partiers out around dinner time and shut down the street gatherings, prompting many people to head toward bars in Uptown Waterloo. With the official St. Patrick’s Day celebrations set for Tuesday, residents say they hope the disruptions seen over the weekend do not repeat themselves.
