To the editor:
In response to the Oconto Falls Area Heritage Center’s recent letter seeking donations, I would like my fellow Oconto Falls area residents to consider some things before donating to the Spruce School Project.
First and foremost, are you or your business committed to continual support by continued donations or volunteering? This will not be a one-time deal; ongoing support will be required.
Will you see that the facility is utilized, or visit once and forget it?
As this is hardly a unique idea, will it really capture your interest?
To Mr. Seeling and the center, the following questions are posed. What groundwork was done to determine the amount of interest in the community for this project? Did anyone check with places such as Shawano (who already has a park with historic buildings) as to annual or seasonal attendance?
What plans are in place to ensure staffing? (Groups in other communities have run into problems getting volunteers after a few years.)
Is your group growing, drawing in enough younger members to ensure continued operation? What plans are in place if interest in your group wanes, or will you just walk away from the building(s), leaving the city to deal with it?
Another concern is location. The old Jefferson School site hardly invites foot traffic. Not being near Main Street or the industrial park area will make the site inconvenient to many.
I feel that not enough questions have been asked and fewer solid answers provided.
Naturally, each person must weigh the pros and cons, then make up his or her own mind. What they should be given is the information needed to reach an intelligent decision.
After all, if this thing comes about, we all will be responsible for it in the end.
David Saffran,
Oconto Falls
Categories
