Fall Fest and Heritage park
Author: JB Howick
Fall Fest and Heritage Park
I would like to clarify my comments per Nancy Marks' article, "Fall Fest, Too Much of a Good Thing?" (October 14, 2022). I like Fall Fest and want it to continue. I believe Fall Fest is valuable to Townsend for many reasons, but I also believe Rotary and the City need to analyze how to manage Fall Fest and its impact on a growing community. During the October 3 City Council meeting some of Fall Fest’s consequences were discussed. I believe it started with a discussion about the success of closing the fenced trash cans along Broadway and replacing them with larger bins. Not surprisingly, the discussion turned to the problems encountered during the Festival. This included overfilled trash bins in the alleys, parking problems and the impact the festival has on businesses. The discussion considered how to deal with parking including suggesting additional signage and engaging Top Gun (which is renovating the old Broadwater Ford building) to tow offenders. But the solutions all had a cost to the city and its taxpayers.
In my opinion, the Council was avoiding a sensitive solution. During a lull in the discussion, I brought it up. The idea isn't that Fall Fest needs to go. It's that it needs to move. Townsend Rotary prefers holding Fall Fest in Heritage Park. That's not a bad thing, the park is beautiful, has a good pavilion for the Rotary's food booth as well as picnic benches and electrical access. But it's also small with very limited parking and that's a problem for both a growing festival and a growing community.
My suggestion to the City Council was simple: the City could deny the use of Heritage Park. It's an action that solves all of the discussed problems at zero cost to the City and taxpayers. I mentioned the solution used by the Red Ants Pants Festival in White Sulphur Springs: move it to a farmer's field. I also had a chance during Fall Fest to speak briefly with Commissioner Mike Delger about these same issues and he explained that the idea of moving Fall Fest to the fairgrounds had been discussed before. A new pavilion (available for Fall Fest 2023) should address most of Rotary's food services concerns. It would allow for ample parking and expansion of vendors and exhibitors. The various buildings at the fairgrounds could be used and a great deal of the seating is protected from the rain. Mr. Delger pointed out a third possibility used by Butte: a hybrid solution using multiple venues to minimize parking problems and spread the festival’s benefits to a larger portion of the community.
No solution will be perfect. But my point is that it's time to have a serious discussion about how and where Fall Fest will grow. Keeping Fall Fest in Heritage Park obviously maximizes the benefit to Broadway bars and restaurants, but the choice restrains Festival growth and non-entertainment businesses experience fewer benefits. City Council member Angie Wintrow, owner of the Mountie Moose Bakery, mentioned that she is forced to open the bakery on festival Sunday due to lost sales on Saturday. This year Townsend Hardware happened to sell tarps to Festival vendors due to the rain, but on average we see little benefit but must monitor parking. Additionally, businesses located on Broadway benefit more than businesses located off Broadway. Or do they? It was suggested during the City Council meeting that a poll of businesses should be taken to determine the extent of benefits and problems. The idea was to poll businesses on Broadway. But do Silo's Junction, The Flamingo Grill, The Bunkhouse and The Big Bull Bar & Grill benefit from Fall Fest? If they do, then the argument that the Festival can't move lest businesses no longer benefit isn't valid. I believe it is time to poll county businesses — and the residents within three blocks of Heritage Park — and ask questions about Fall Fest and its impact.
It is my opinion that Fall Fest must stay — just not in Heritage Park. It is a valuable part of our community and its culture. But with all things popular, it brings problems that must be addressed. I believe we should gather information and not make assumptions. I believe Fall Fest should continue to be one of the anchor events of the community, but not at the expense of the community. It is my sincere hope that Rotary, the City, the County, and all interested parties can work together for a solution that manages growth, solves problems and benefits us all.
