Document text
Central Point begins to consider new sites for July 4 festivities By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT - Development is forcing organizers of the annual Fourth of July festivities to find other venues. Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Herbold met with Jackson County Exposition Center representative Chris Borovansky and Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Hanson to discuss plans to host the annual fireworks display somewhere else - possibly the fairgrounds. "Maybe or maybe not this next year, but definitely we'll need somewhere else by 2003," Herbold said. "We've done them at the fairgrounds a few times in the last few years, and I think it would work out fine. We've got a pretty good relationship with the people out there." Hanson said that the fireworks were being ousted from their home of seven years across from Crater High School because the site is planned to become a portion of the Twin Creeks development - a 1,200-home subdivision with 50 acres of parkland. "My house is actually built on part of the site where fireworks used to be," Hanson said. "We may be able to use the site one more year, but we're just trying to plan ahead." In addition to the fireworks display, the parade route and ensuing festivities may change location as well. School bond construction projects will be in full swing by summer, Hanson said. "We'll possibly be starting (the parade) at the other end of town with construction going on at the high school. We're not even sure it would be a problem, but we've got to plan ahead just in case." And a small carnival held downtown could join the fireworks at the fairgrounds to provide more room. "It's real popular, so we've just kind of outgrown the park we have it in now," Hanson said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to work together and have something out at the fairgrounds for that as well. "Our city is growing and things are taking more room than they used to." The chamber sponsors Fourth of July festivities using chamber dues as well as donations from citizens and business owners. Average cost for the festivities ranges between $4,000 and $5,000. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.