FLINT, MI -- Slide the City, a company that turns main streets into water slides, canceled its downtown Flint event Thursday, July 16, just nine days before it was scheduled.

"I got an email today, not even a phone call," said Gerard Burnash, executive of the Flint Downtown Development Authority.

The DDA had reached out to the company months ago to schedule the event, which would have turned a portion of downtown Saginaw Street into a water slide where people could ride inner tubes for ticket prices ranging between $25 and $40.

Burnash said he was disappointed to get the email, but added that having seen problems occur with the event in other cities, he thought it might be a "blessing in disguise."

"I'm almost glad they canceled. This tells me a lot about them. I would hate to have a horribly run event," he said.

Slide the City was in Ann Arbor on July 4, and local officials complained about long lines and a lack of available water for people to drink in summer heat as they waited. One person needed medical attention because of dehydration, according to MLive files.

Burnash said the DDA had taken steps to make sure the same things wouldn't happen in Flint, such as buying lots of bottled water. He said now it will use the water at future events.

Also disappointed with the cancellation was Jamie Gaskin, CEO of the United Way of Genesee County, which had raised money to allow more than 200 children to ride the slide.

Gaskin said he wasn't sure if the children involved (the United Way was working with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Whaley Children's Center) were aware of the rides they were supposed to get or not.

"I'm a big kid, and I was excited about going down the slide," he said. "It's a disappointment, but we'll soldier on."

He said the United Way is offering donors the money back, or the option to put it toward its reading oasis program, which is putting reading centers in two Flint elementary schools and one Carman-Ainsworth elementary school.

In its email to the DDA and Amy Meister of the United Way, Slide the City Event Director Meredith Dalenburg wrote:

I have some sad news this morning. Due to the low registration numbers for Flint Slide the City, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the event. An email will go out to participants today and all participants will automatically receive a full refund. We really were looking forward to a great event in Flint and hope to be able bring the slide back to your city in the future.

Amy, I know the group of children who were going to be receiving the free tickets will be disappointed, too. We will be refunding that money back for those tickets as well. Our CEO, Emerson Hamilton, has contacted a local movie theatre and organized for a movie matinee for all of those kids. He is CC'ed here and can speak further about the arrangements he has made.

Burnash said that 800 people had registered for the event before it was canceled.

Burnash said he'd like to find a replacement event for July 25 but said there just isn't time to organize something similar so quickly.

Gaskin said that as a "silver lining," FirstMerit Bank, one of the event sponsors, is paying to have a frozen treats truck go to the children's organizations.

Slide the City officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.