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Mayor James Morgan has a strong warning for his fellow residents: the town’s primary festival almost died this year and won’t last much longer without an influx of new volunteers.
Crocker Railroad Days is sponsored by the Crocker Chamber of Commerce and has been held for decades, commemorating the railroad heritage that built Crocker and at one time made it the county’s leading city. Morgan told city council members Monday night that the train whistles of the festival could fall silent unless a plan to transfer the festival to the city park board is approved and is followed up with much more community help.
The need for help is real and immediate, Morgan said.
“There was even talk of doing away with (Railroad Days) this year,” Morgan said. “We don’t want to do away with it, but it is a lot of work. Five people just can’t do it.”
Morgan said the number of volunteers has tapered off dramatically in recent years and said there’s no way a major community event can continue to be hosted by a small group.
Alderman Kim Skaggs-Henson said she regretted the news but wondered if the move from downtown Crocker into the Crocker City Park was to blame.
“I think there has been a big drop-off of interest since it moved to the new location,” Skaggs-Henson said. “I remember when I was a kid and it was downtown and I would look forward to it.”
Morgan said he realizes there are reasons to keep the festival downtown and to move it, but said the primary reason for moving the festival is that there’s no longer adequate space in downtown Crocker for a community festival on the scale of Railroad Days.
Morgan said he plans to announce at Railroad Days this year that the future of the festival depends on residents deciding to support it. If that doesn’t happen, the festival probably won’t happen next year, he said.
Mayor James Morgan has a strong warning for his fellow residents: the town’s primary festival almost died this year and won’t last much longer without an influx of new volunteers.
Crocker Railroad Days is sponsored by the Crocker Chamber of Commerce and has been held for decades, commemorating the railroad heritage that built Crocker and at one time made it the county’s leading city. Morgan told city council members Monday night that the train whistles of the festival could fall silent unless a plan to transfer the festival to the city park board is approved and is followed up with much more community help.
The need for help is real and immediate, Morgan said.
“There was even talk of doing away with (Railroad Days) this year,” Morgan said. “We don’t want to do away with it, but it is a lot of work. Five people just can’t do it.”
Morgan said the number of volunteers has tapered off dramatically in recent years and said there’s no way a major community event can continue to be hosted by a small group.
Alderman Kim Skaggs-Henson said she regretted the news but wondered if the move from downtown Crocker into the Crocker City Park was to blame.
“I think there has been a big drop-off of interest since it moved to the new location,” Skaggs-Henson said. “I remember when I was a kid and it was downtown and I would look forward to it.”
Morgan said he realizes there are reasons to keep the festival downtown and to move it, but said the primary reason for moving the festival is that there’s no longer adequate space in downtown Crocker for a community festival on the scale of Railroad Days.
Morgan said he plans to announce at Railroad Days this year that the future of the festival depends on residents deciding to support it. If that doesn’t happen, the festival probably won’t happen next year, he said.
