Re: Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival letters.
Thank you G. Cowley for expressing your concerns regarding the bluegrass festival in Meadowood Park.
It’s unfortunate that the RDN (Regional District of Nanaimo) parks dept. and the Corcan Meadowood Residents Association gave “the thumbs up” without the input of the Corcan Meadowood residents.
We did not get a chance to ask questions and express our concerns. The CMRA is a small group that do not speak for the majority of people in our area.
Although there is a sign in the park, which is difficult to see from the main road, not many people in our area seem to be aware of the event.
Those that I have spoken to, that have seen the sign, thought it was odd that there was advertising at Meadowood for the festival that has been previously held in Lighthouse Park.
We already have traffic issues on our local roads and many of us are concerned about the increased traffic this three-day event will bring to our area.
Meadowood Park is a small park in a gravel pit off the beaten path of Highway 19A and is not a practical venue for this event.
Traffic is only one of the concerns that residents didn’t get a chance to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to.
The bluegrass festival isn’t an event solely for the Corcan Meadowood community. It is advertised widely and brings musicians and visitors from near and far. It’s advertised as one of the largest events out of the greater Nanaimo area. Like many others I moved to this area to enjoy a peaceful country lifestyle.
I have to disagree with Linda Thorburn. Many of us do know each other in at least a casual nature. We don’t need a three-day music festival to get to know our neighbours.
Jodi GillenQualicum Beach