Are You Ready To Wave Goodbye To The Waterland Parade? Please Take Our Poll
by It is that time of year again – time to start planning for our community summer events.
As you may or may not know, the current economic situation and major construction projects within the city of Des Moines have dictated that many events be cancelled this year, including:
- Classic Car and Wooden Boat Show
- Italian Concourse Car Show
- Waterland 5k Run
- Waterland 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
The good news is that there will still be many fun things to do in Des Moines this summer. There are many groups busily planning events for you and your families to enjoy, including:
- Fireworks over Des Moines! Brooks Powell / Powell Homes is dedicated to making this event happen and is seeking additional funds to privately cover the costs of city staffing needs
- The Des Moines Farmers Market, every Saturday (June 5-October 30), south end of the marina
- Waterland Music Series, dates and times TBD, Des Moines Arts Commission
- Des Moines Parks and Recreation’s Camp Khaos (Kids Having An Outrageous Summer), new location due to construction, Des Moines Field House Historic grandstand and ball field rededication, Des Moines Field House
- Missoula Children’s Theater, July
- Trash to Treasure (swap meet style), August, hosted by Des Moines Senior Activity Center
The Waterland Parade has NOT been officially cancelled. Yet.
There is a group of people, led by Anna Bjorneby, dedicated to making it happen with help from donations and private funding. The question is this:
Will residents and the business community support a parade?
Council Member Carmen Scott had this to say:
“This information is needed quickly by the people who would be putting on the parade in order to secure support and entrants. It is important to know if the parade is important to our residents. What does it mean to them? Parades require a level of staff support from the city. Your comments and response to the blog poll and/or email to council@desmoineswa.gov will give council members a good update on what importance the Waterland Parade has to our community.”
Thousands lined the streets during last summer's Waterland Parade.
Here is where you can help. Parade planners and city council members need to know where the community stands on this. Due to time constraints, this is perhaps your only opportunity to be heard regarding a 2010 Waterland parade.
Please vote using our non-scientific Poll below this story, or on the sidebar. Feel free to also share your thoughts about the parade and what it means to you, your family and traditions by leaving a Comment below:
Loading ...[2009 Waterland Parade Photo by Gene Achziger; buggy photo courtesy Des Moines Historical Society; 2009 Photo courtesy Carmen Scott]
The last parade cost the city over $40,000 (in police overtime-city staff putting up bleachers and signs-etc…) that amounts to a city hall staff member working half time most of the year.
It should never have happened, but the city council was hell bent on having the birthday parade regardless of the fact that there was no money.
This year, the city finances are even worse. This should be a no brainer-NO PARADE.
I cannot imagine why this is even up for discussion!
Maybe the city council should talk to the city finance director-take a look at the books and see for themselves that there is more money going out than coming in or ignore the facts, lay off another staff member, and have a great parade.
Greg is exactly right…NO PARADE. Save the money and put it in the police department to restore one of the officers that was laid off. It’s ridiculous the City would even consider this in the economic environment.
I guess neither one of you actually read the survey… OR perhaps you don’t understand what privately funded means? This is merely a temperature gauge article to assist the many volunteers who are willing to give their time again this year to put on a long standing community tradition that many people enjoy.
No one is surprised by your comments Mr. Fox, same song second verse (or is it third?). BTW, I think you “accidentally” inflated your $40,000 price tag…What I saw was just over $30,000 which included all of the 50th birthday party community events and all departments combined not just the parade.
There is a way to trim the budget of putting on the Waterland parade. Hire private security, as most other organizations do in other cities including Seafair, instead of using Des Moines Police either through the city or the guild. Unfortunately, history tells me that the likelihood of being allowed by to do that by PD is slim to none.
Heaven forbid anyone in this town wants to do anything fun or that builds a sense of being a community. Where there is a will, there is a way. If the community wants a parade, there is a way to find private money to fund it.
It’s all good Mr. Fox and “David”. If the parade happens or if you decide to attend any of the fun things planned this summer I hope you have a fantastic time, smile lots, enjoy the people of Des Moines, I will. I said it before and I will say it again I LOVE THIS TOWN! Des Moines is a great place to work, play and to raise a family.
WOW! Have you got it wrong…
This is not about city pride or “having fun in the community”. This is about money. Cold hard cash. Yes I preach continually about the waste in the spending of tax dollars and this stands out in front.
Whle hiring private security would save money-but hire with what? Tax dollars?
If someone can prove that we can have a parade and not cost the city a dime (it would be all ‘donated’ money’) then I would be the first to say yeah parade-yeah Des Moines.
Until then-bah humbug!!!
Brenda, your comment about “building a sense of community” is a good one. Did you know the city has already been in discussion with the City of Kent and other adjacent communities for providing city services such as policing. Can you say “Port of Kent?” How is that for identity?
The parade is a big part of our community and has been for many years. I know that the city is short of money and is cutting everything it can to balance the budget. What can we do to bring our community together to make the parade happen? I have personally volunteered thousands of hours over 20 years for this city and loved most of it. We need events to keep our community excited about living here.
As I am seeing by reading once, and then reading the article again, the question that is being asked is who is interested in a Waterland Parade? I am interested in a Parade and up to this moment have all of my money earmarked for personal pleasures such as Mortgage, heat, water and food.
However, if I can offer my time to make this work, count me in. I look forward to seeing if there is a large enough stash of private money to take care of the expenses. That is very generous of those people willing to foot the bill.
I know the City of Des Moines budget will not and was not offered to cover these expenses. So what I am hearing you say, is that you want to know HOW important it is to the citizens of DM that we have a Parade.
All the details can be worked out by the Waterland Parade Committee after we find out if people want to have a Parade enough to either pay for it or volunteer to make it happen.
Who will stand up and say “I can either give money to support this or I can give my time”? Some people could even be in the situation where they can offer both. It looks like the decision needs to be made soon.
Not one city dime on the parade. Not even “in-kind” cost. What some of the parade supporters don’t seem to understand were the direct city overtime costs did not include the entire amount of parade expense to the city. Significant staff time went to planning during “regular” staff time not charged back to the parade. Hmmm, little things like submitting a required traffic management plan to the state, delivering and ordering of extra barricades (paying for same) , later pick up of same and trash left behind. Now lets look at the incentives for the “locals” on the parade route. Tons of folks that could leave or get back to their homes while the route was closed. What about all those lucky business folks. No traffic, no customers. This parade is and has been self serving for a very few people who think it is civic minded. It is not. Wake up and smell the lack of money. The city has laid off employees in every department incuding the police. They have quit paying into funds for replacement of equipment and repair and maintenance. Employees who remain have been force to take furlough days and reduced salaries and benefits. For those who think these parade costs can be covered by volunteers and donations, please get your head out of the bucket of waterland.
How many times do I have to say this… Our City Council has no business running a city. Our mayor can’t seem to grasp the fact that tax dollars are not something made available for his personal spending pleasure. I will never support a parade in this city. Even with private funding, I can guarantee a cost to our police department when a gang fight or stabbing takes place in the crowd. Anyone who thinks we have something to celebrate is out of their mind.
Gang Fight? Stabbing? OMG! Really? That is where you go with this article? It must be very scary for you to step outside your front door. I feel very sorry for you! Life is great; you should try living it instead of hiding, crying, playing the part of martyr. Only cowards lead by trying to instill fear into people. Anyone who uses this technique is a spineless coward.
I have the courage to post using my actual name…I have no respect for anyone who posts on the blog and doesn’t have the balls to have a true public debate without hiding like cowards. Anything you say means nothing!
Mr. Fox, thank you for not being a coward and sharing your thoughts with the community. That is what it is all about, sharing beliefs and convictions in a respectful and sometimes spirited way.
As far as the rest of you who cast stones while hiding in the dark shadows of our city, you are the problem. Grow up, grow a pair, and let’s debate; quit being cowards.
Who knows this town might begin to move forward if all of the cowards would quit using fear and anonymity as their weapons of choice.
What a bunch of morons.
noun
1. a person who is notably stupid or lacking in good judgment.
2. Psychology. a person of borderline intelligence in a former classification of mental retardation, having an intelligence quotient of 50 to 69.
You are name calling and we are the morons? I think debate and discussion can be handled like adults. People tend to resort to those tactics when they run out of argument. You might want to learn what blogging is all about. Come out of your corner when you want to play nice.
Wow, that was a bit much probably would have not included the last part if I would have waited unitl the next morning to send…Note to self: No blogging after 10pm and install 12 hour delay on keyboard send switch…
Tax the hookers, drug dealers, and pimps, and we will be able to have the biggest parade in the state!
So this thread is not making me particularly proud of living and working in Des Moines. Maybe this post will help restart the meaningful discussion Brenda was looking for when she first posted her article, then again, maybe it wont.
I have, more or less, lived my entire life in Des Moines. I am one of those civic minded Des Moinians that supports continuing the Parade. For that matter I support bringing back the Waterland Festival in all of its glory with a carnival, live music, beer garden, arts and crafts show etc. etc.
I also support having the City provide support services on an in kind basis if the revenues from the festival/parade do not cover all of the costs. Why, you might ask, would a local business owner and resident, i.e. a frequent taxpayer, support such frivolous events when my hard earned tax dollars might be on the line? Well, since you asked, here are my top ten reasons this community needs a parade and a Waterland festival.
1. I grew up in Des Moines and remember the childhood excitement every summer when the carnival and parade came to town.
2. I remember a different kind of excitement that came with being a teenager free to roam with my friends at Waterland time….
3. I would like my kids and the other kids of Des Moines to have a chance to experience the same excitement (well okay maybe my kids can skip the teenage excitement…)
4. These events provide an opportunity for local civic minded organizations to raise awareness and raise money to support the unmet needs of the community. The Des Moines Rotary club, as only one example, raised on average $7,000- $8,000 every year at its hole in one contest. Take a look at the wine festival page at DMRotary.org if you want to see why these funds are important to our community.
5. Perhaps the benefits generated by such events, visitors to Des Moines, funds raised by local civic groups, the opportunity to showcase local businesses, etc. actually provide an overall economic benefit to the City.
6. These events provide the entire community with the opportunity to get out and celebrate the good life in Des Moines.
7. I like beer gardens.
8. Speaking with my head deeply buried in a bucket of Waterland, based on the history of Waterland of days gone by, with the right volunteers, commitments and revenues that could be generated by a carnival/parade I think our City could survive the financial impact of the events without being forced to rename ourselves the Port of Kent.
9. The benefits of community events can’t be measured only in dollars and cents.
10. Parades and Carnivals are fun.
I have lived in Des Moines for many years and I too have enjoyed the Waterland parades and fireworks shows. I don’t discount the many fond memories and good times they helped create. I also credit the the generous and hard work of people including Brenda and Brian for volunteering to help bring about these types of community events. Sadly we are living in very difficult and different times and changes need to occur.
Many of us also enjoyed the Ivars fireworks display. It went away. It did so not because they were tired of making smiles and fond memories. It did so because it was a business decision based on economics. And the City of Des Moines needs to start acting like a business. I am sorry Brenda and Brian but the cost of putting on the parade will never be fully covered by volunteers and donations. The climate just isn’t right for it, people and businesses are hurting . Local governments, especially ours are hurting.
The City needs to focus its efforts and funds on those projects that will bring about the economic revitalization to put us in a position where we can afford to have these type of events and then I would be right out in front saying bring on the parade. Lets get the downtown water main project finished so developers can come in and make us the jewel we should be. Maybe revenues would start to “flow.”
Though they won’t even whisper out loud, the city isn’t that far from bankruptcy. Its cash reserves and balances are dangerously low. Its bond rating were so bad it had to back out of the SCORE jail project as a owner city so it did not drag down the ratings of its partnering cities. That is on a project being built right here in our own town. Yes, the city is still involved with the project, just at a different level. Kind of sad. So yep, parades and carnivals are fun but this just isn’t the time. But on second thought, maybe Kent could give us a loan?
The Waterland Parade is a part of Seafair. It bring recognition to the City of Des Moines.
It brings revenue to local business owners: Ask the Dog House how many hotdogs she sold. How many cupcakes will be sold if the parade happens? How many people went to Corky’s for the grape stomping? How many people walked into the local businesses? The amount of economic activity produced from last years parade has an exponential value. That means that the money is spent in Des Moines stays in Des Moines and produces more tax revenue.
If the Parade is privately funded, how nice will it be for our Des Moines Police Department to be paid overtime from NON-TAX FUNDS. Imagine if we can find a company willing to donate the funds to cover an officer for the parade.
I run a local business that is already donating time and funds to the project. My business is more than doubling our commitment. I believe in creating and adding to my community, not taking from it.
Again, we are not necessarily asking for the city to fund the Parade. We are asking if the city wants a parade and to what conditions.
Jason, I know I have come across on this parade topic as Mr. Bah Humbug and that is because I am passionate about the city’s poor financial condition and a need to focus on real economic revitalization to get it financial health on track. I know some of my comments have been very zealous and I thank Mr. Snure’s comments for bringing me into a better balance. But there are many sides to the story. I also know of businesses that have been hurt because of the parade and the road closures. People who could not get to hair salons, doctor appointments, the grocery store, and others. I know of a family that had a wedding planned and their 150 guests were greatly delay. I’m happy the Dog House sold a couple of hundred extra hot dogs (yes I eat there on occasion) but that is not going to pay the city bills.
The people who support this event are great, no fantastic persons. I just wish in these hard times they would focus their efforts on ideas or events that would not put a strain on city services. Perhaps a youth circus, a big event at the old Masonic Home, the now mostly vacant Land Mark maybe a combined antique show, flower show, art show and wine tasting? How about a hot rod show at Highline College on a weekend. All these things and more could be done with very little expense to the city or draw on city services. There are many alternatives to a parade.
I think the discussion about the Parade is about more than a parade. It is a symbol of something that is lacking in our town. Des Moines is going through a tough time, certainly financially, but also is suffering a bit of an identity crisis. There seems to be no clear philosophical vision nor a collective idea about our shared destiny. What do we want to be? What type of town do we want to have? While I agree with “Joe Average” on the idea that fiscal responsibility is vital to any recovery, I also know that counting beans alone will never get us there. The dreamers are the ones with big visions and ideas that inspire and create action and energy. The bean-counters provide very little emotional attraction to making anything happen. Fun events and dreams of a better future inspire forward motion. We need forward motion. We need hopeful, committed citizens to make things happen. Our dreamers are motivated by care and love for this community and WILL shape the future. Hopefully, somewhere in the distance, there will be plenty of beans to keep the counters busy. Until then, I will remain a dreamer and keep working on creating a city that is worthy of all the great people who call it home.