Lonsdale meets to wrap up Community Days

The Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a wrap-up meeting at the Lonsdale Library conference room on Thursday, Sept. 19, inviting the public to have input on the planning of Lonsdale Community Days. 

  Chamber Board Member Pastor Howard White led the meeting of about 30 community members. Additional board members were also present and wrote down the many suggestions offered.

One area of concern that many felt needed to be addressed at future festivals, was that of accessibility for the elderly and those with mobility issues. 

Dawn Krenik, a vendor at the celebration, stated that she felt the accessibility problem was huge.

“People didn’t come because of it,” she stated.

Another topic of discussion was the car cruise. Nancy Watts, a volunteer and participant of the event, said many complained about parking their cars on the rutted field. 

“In the past it was at the Legion. There were Buck Burgers and a wonderful place to park,” she said. 

Legion Member Troy Walters agreed, saying he would be open to moving the event back to the Legion, and offered to partner in some way.

Some at the meeting expressed that they didn’t like having to purchase a button to enter the field and that the $5 fee was too much. 

That was disputed by others in the audience who said the festival had to be paid for somehow. 

Location was also brought up with a comment about wanting it to return to downtown. White told those present that MnDOT would not allow State Hwy. 19 to be closed for the festival because there was not an acceptable detour around the downtown, especially for truck traffic. He said it was possible, however, to hold events on both sides of the street, as well as near Snap Fitness and Subway east of town.

“What I heard more than anything,” he said, “is not to exclude people because of difficulty with rough terrain.”

Chamber Board President Terinee Stangler said the board appreciated the community involvement and would review the list of suggestions.

“The board is very grateful to those who attended the meeting and shared some good ideas,” she said. “We look forward to working with some of those same people in helping implement things that will continue to improve the Lonsdale Community Days event.”

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