Harry's Gang: Our parks should be used - a lot

Cloquet Ford, one of the community’s prominent high-profile small businesses, has held a sales event at Veterans Park in Cloquet a couple of times in the past, but when it went to reserve the park for another event this fall, its permit was denied. Apparently, last year, some complaints were made about commercial use of the park, and whether a car sales event is an appropriate use for a city park.

At that time, city officials had researched the zoning rules and regulations, and determined that a big car sale was not allowed. There is some wiggle room in the zooming ordinance, but the general consensus is that an event whose main purpose is commercial sales is not appropriate for a city park.

Sure, some commercial activity is allowed in the parks; for example, it’s OK to sell tacos and egg rolls from Julie’s food truck during the Fourth of July party, but it probably isn’t appropriate for Julie to park her truck down there just any old time to sell her delicious homemade food. If the main event is commercial, that’s a commercial use.

I think most of us can make that distinction. I also think some people feel that holding a big car sale somehow cheapens the park. It just ‘feels’ gauche — used cars dealers have only slightly better reputations than lawyers or politicians, it seems.

But after carefully examining this issue, I’ve decided the city should have allowed Cloquet Ford to hold its event. Here’s why:

First, we need to consider what the event is, exactly. It’s a promotional event, designed to bring as many people down to Veterans Park as possible. That’s a good thing. It’s an opportunity to showcase the veterans’ memorial to a whole bunch of people who otherwise might never step foot in the park. I bet Cloquet Ford will be more than happy to sell a few vehicles during the sale, of course, but so what? Everybody wins.

Second, we know that the owners of Cloquet Ford are very proud of the work they do for the community, and for veterans in particular. Al and Renee Birman are local residents (they live next door to me, by the way) and are longtime supporters of all things community. One of their partners, according to Al, is a disabled vet. Their generosity, the jobs they provide, and all the good work they do in the community should really have no effect on this decision … but it does. I doubt the Birmans would hold an event with any intention of disrespecting veterans in any way.

The Birmans donate to just about everything. They brought back the “Home for the Holidays” winter celebration a few years ago, and Renee even brings homemade cookies to new neighbors, a sign of friendliness. The list of their generosity is too long to itemize here.

Now, they would probably do all that stuff anyway. That’s the kind of people they are. And, they know it’s good for business. They say “yes” just about every time someone asks them; it’s probably nice, once in a while, for us to say “yes” to them.

Third, holding a used car sales event at Veterans Park is not disrespectful to veterans. The park is not sacred ground. It’s a memorial. Bringing a large number of people to the park is another way to honor veterans.

Zoning aside, I fail to see how holding car sale at the park is disrespectful.

The issue is probably moot. I suspect Cloquet Ford will abandon the idea of holding events in Veterans Park, as they don’t want to cause any unnecessary controversy.

But, I’d go one step further and suggest that the park be used more often for for-profit enterprises. I think getting more people to come to Veterans Park, even for commercial events, is good for Cloquet.

Pete Radosevich is the publisher of the Pine Knot News and an attorney in Esko who hopes to host the talk show Harry’s Gang on CAT-7 again someday. His opinions are his own. Contact him at Pete.

Radosevich@Pine KnotNews.com.