Well, the Warrior Dash has come and gone. Left in its wake?
An abused Platte Ridge Park.
Of course, much of this was to be expected. After all, you put 14,000 people over two days trampling anywhere and it’s going to be... well, trampled on.
But, when you throw in the lovely two-day rain that precipitated the Warrior Dash, the trampled factor is multiplied exponentially.
And, when you add the fact that due to that rain, a good portion of the thousands of cars driven by runners and spectators were parked at Platte Ridge Park instead of at the Platte County Fairgrounds, like originally planned, it’s multiplied even more.
“The sudden shift in parking the day before presented some problems,” Platte County Presiding Commissioner Jason Brown said Tuesday afternoon. “If Warrior Dash becomes an annual thing, parking and traffic will always be issues. ”
Brown said the County and Warrior Dash promoter Red Frog performed their contractually-agreed-upon walkthrough Monday afternoon, during which Brown said “some concerns were noted, but it wasn’t anything unexpected, given the circumstances.” Red Frog’s contract calls for them to return the park to its original state and the County required it to make a $25,000 security deposit prior to the event.
Another dynamic of the event that did not play out exactly like it was drawn up was the traffic flow for vehicles leaving Platte Ridge Park and the Fairgrounds. The plan was to funnel traffic through Platte City on Highway 92, thereby encouraging Dashers to visit Platte City area businesses.
When I left Platte Ridge Park after spending a few hours there Saturday, Platte County Sheriff’s Department personnel were allowing some vehicles to get on I-29 at exit 20, thereby bypassing Platte City. Brown said it was his understanding that at times the traffic was being funneled through Platte City and at other times it wasn’t. “This year’s Dash wasn’t perfect, but we got through it,” Brown said. “I plan on talking to Platte City and Chamber folks to see what they thought.”
Platte City Chamber Executive Director Angie Mutti said she had not had time yet to gather a lot of feedback from local business, but she said, “everything I’ve heard so far has been positive.”
Good news.
And, in case you were wondering, I got splattered with mud taking our front page pics.
SURPRISE VISITOR It’s not every day a guy worth $150 million walks through your door.
So, when Mark Hill, the Dearborn man who won the Powerball Lottery last November, stopped by my office Tuesday, I stopped what I was doing and invited the man into my office.
Hill just wanted to chat a bit about the planned Camden Point ballfield/fire and ambulance station project that he initiated earlier this year and has lent financial support to.
He also promised we would get together soon for a sit-down about what it’s been like walking in his shoes in the months since his life-altering lottery win.
Stay tuned.
Thanks for reading. Lee Stubbs is owner/editor of The Citizen. He may be reached by e-mail at editor@plattecountycitizen.com or by calling 858-5154. Follow him on Twitter @leejstubbs.