If you were not in downtown Ashland yesterday, you missed a great event. For the first time since I have lived in Ashland, I saw so many people coming to downtown, walking around, and yes, even going in to our shops and businesses.
The car show that brought so many to Ashland yesterday had over 250 registered participants. Starting at 8 in the morning, activities didn't wind down until about 4 PM. It is this type of activities that Ashland needs to bring the downtown back. Parades are great and part of a community feel, but every parade in downtown that I have seen, people leave within minutes of the parade ending. If the business owners and residents want to help the local economy, we have to keep people in the downtown and using the shops located there. According to Heritage Ohio and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, non chain stores keep more dollars in the community than the big box stores.
Way to go Ashland on a successful even. I'm looking forward to the next big bash!
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