REAL ESTATE
by Jim Coleman, REALTOR®
IS THIS THE LAST STAND AT THE OLE SUN BOWL CORRAL?
Anyone residing in St George for any length of time should be aware of the vast growth that have occurred in recent years just by driving around with their eyes open and the demand for use of the available land in the area. Additionally, city hall has made a profound statement and commitment to the down town and city center of the community. These factors put pressure on the land area known as the Dixie Sun Bowl, the site best known for the famous Lion's Dixie Round Up.
So, what about this Legend of the West? What should be done about it, and who should decide it? A simple statement is made here as answer to the last question with a much longer commentary about what the legend is. It is my opinion that the city officials have to make the decision about the use of the land at that prime location based on city use needs and progress for the community, with one large BUT. The BUT is that there should be significant input, discussion and feedback from the community, both immediate neighbors and town folk at large, about the event, the location, and the impact of both upon the community.
Now for the reflection and flash back upon this, one of the first major event anchors of the area.
The Lions' presentation of its three night stand of the American Western Rodeo is one of the best performances of its kind. All of the events associated with the Round Up provide a great community function. There have been changes over the years, but the show is the same basic format.
Folks who have been around "these here parts" for awhile, have been avid supporters of the Lions. Those who have been regular attenders of the show, may remember when there wasn’t the extra strands of wire cable on the top of the arena wall, and may even remember when more than one animal made its attempt to join the fans in the seats.
Some long-time patrons will remember when the cushions or pillows were rented for the night and how the kids enjoyed throwing them frisbee-style (before there was such a thing as a frisbee) into the arena at the end of the night's show. Do you remember having to listen to the rodeo announcer over the roar of the old power plant just across the street south of the Dixie Sun Bowl?
One item of change is that the old grandstand bleachers at the ball park to the west of the sun bowl is gone, as is the parking that used to be provided on the ball field for the rodeo. But have you also noticed that even though there is less off-street parking than there was then, there is less dust with the nice grass ball field now in place.
We are experiencing serious drought in this region of the country. There are many residents who complain about our growth and though they may have contributed to the growth, would like to see it turned back. There are those who would like to undo a lot of what has been done in recent decades.
But I not only congratulate one of our fine community service groups for providing a tremendous community event, I also plug the importance of outstanding community functions. They are important to community life. The community that is awake to provide a wide variety of well planned, well administered events, activities and functions for the citizens to both be of service as well as support as patrons, is a community that is alive; and this condition surely beats the alternative.
So I say, get on the boots and riding shaps, and spur the bucking, and keep a tight rein to keep our Round Up and other wonderful community functions, for these help make us who and what we are.
St. George REALTOR® Jim Coleman is Associate Broker and Partner/Owner of ERA Brokers Consolidated. He Specializes in Residential, Investment and Commercial Real Estate, holding National Designations of Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Resort and Second Home Property Specialist (RSPS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). You can contact him by e-mail at Jim@RealtorJimC.com. Call: (435) 674-0600; or write: Jim Coleman, 201 East St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah 84770. This and other columns are available at www.RealtorJimC.com/articles.