The Carnival Committee’s Riverfront Dream Faces Pushback
A committee proposes a riverfront carnival featuring water stunts and a baseball diamond, but locals worry the site is too far from town and too expensive.
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Dr. F. M. Crosby and E. W. Trenbath, members of the Grape Carnival committee, have selected the riverfront—the former site of the Celilo celebration—for this year's event. The plan involves fencing the area to accommodate a baseball diamond, night illumination, and water stunts like boat racing and swimming contests. The committee hopes to operate refreshment stands to minimize the guarantee fund deficit. During a two-hour discussion at the Commercial Club, members expressed concerns that the grounds are too remote and the project too ambitious. Dr. Crosby suggested a 'jitney' bus service and a ferry from Pasco to mitigate transport issues, but skeptics, including W. Meikle, argued for using the old ball grounds near the Washington school instead. The club voted to investigate the school site option further.
“It is the plan of the committee to fence enough of the water front to accommodate a baseball diamond. The river is to be utilized and made to contribute to the amusement features.”
Kennewick has long grappled with the tension between waterfront development and town-center integration. The debate over 'remote' carnival sites mirrors the modern logistical challenges of the city's ongoing efforts to revitalize the Columbia riverfront.
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