Deer Crowds and Parking
Last Saturday’s Deer Festival attracted a large crowd as always. And most of us got to see at least a few old friends and enjoy eating some tasty, if unhealthy, foods.
The parade was held at 11 a.m. rather than afternoon as it has been for several years now. I, for one, thought it worked out great. With the early parade, it gave families plenty of time to enjoy the festival afterwards without having to keep track of time.
I am sure others disagree…particularly those from out of town who may have missed the parade by not knowing about the time change. It will be interesting to learn what feedback the Chamber of Commerce (COC) gets, and what time the parade is next year.
Deer Festival is one of those things that shows us the good of tourism. A lot of money was spent here, with some staying here, and some benefiting people elsewhere. But, each of those booths paid a fee to the COC which promotes local business.
One of the challenges on Deer Festival day is for festival-goers to find places to park. And, businesses are always concerned about customers being able to get to them.
The Monticello News is not open on Saturday, so we were only concerned about parking for our employees who were working and enjoying the festival.
The side parking lot, which we have three spaces in, is used for the venison cook-off every year.
Unfortunately, not many people were able to park behind the office as the back parking lot was blocked off. Someone, unbeknownst to me, roped off the rear entrance to our parking lot—an area that has often been used by many and could hold numerous cars.
I think the responsible party was the Boy Scouts, who were parking people in the vacant lot on the other side of the Tillman House Restaurant for a fee.
Neither the Tillman House property nor The Monticello News property goes all the way to the street behind the News office. If the property owners okayed the remainder of the lot being closed, so be it. But, they didn’t.
If the Scout leaders took it upon themselves to limit the parking here to create more of a need for people to pay to park where they were, that is just wrong.
It sure does not go along with the ideals promoted by Scouting. If they blocked off private property without permission, they should be ashamed.
I wonder how many “tourists” were offended by the fact that they saw lots of empty land where cars could park if it was not roped off. I hope it doesn’t keep them from coming back and spending money here another day. I hope it doesn’t leave a bad taste in their mouth about Monticello.
Those of us who love our home have to remember that tourism is an industry, and can be quite profitable. We need to do all we can to make visitors feel welcome whenever they come. It does not matter why they visit, but if they drop some money here, it benefits our community.
Many of the “tourists” Saturday were likely local people who don’t shop much in Monticello. We had a chance to impress them and invite them back.
I sure hope a Scout leader’s desire to make money did not run off people who we might want to welcome to our community. And I really hope they are teaching these young boys to respect other people’s property.
“Do as I say, not as I do,” doesn’t really work, as many parents have learned.