Tradition for Humboldt residents comes to an end

UPDATE (5/13/24): Residents demand answers for closing of a popular area in Humboldt

HUMBOLDT, Tenn.– One local community’s traditional weekend takes a hit due to a “No Trespassing” sign.

The area known as the “Crossing” by residents of Humboldt community, is now blocked from being used for a long-standing event and residents are just wanting answers as to “why now?”

‘The Crossing’ or also known as Front Street is where friends and families have hung out for decades.

As people drive around the Crossing, people mentioned how empty the area is to them.

“It looks weird to me because every year the Strawberry Festival is so big. I had some older people approach me since I’ve been off work and they said they remember when they were growing up they used to come to the cross and sit here for the Strawberry Festival,” Leon McNeal, Vice Mayor of Humboldt, shares.

Residents shared that this area would be packed with cars and people laughing and enjoying themselves.

Earlier Thursday morning those laughing faces were gone after news that the parking lot could no longer be used for a block party.

“Got quite a few calls about people were concerned about a block party. I said ‘well they’re not going to have the block party. So why are y’all still gonna close of this parking area, where people normally park their cars,'” Tammie Porter, Humboldt Alderman adds.

Weeks before the Strawberry Festival, two members of the community shared that their would be a block party at the Crossing. Vice Mayor McNeal and City Alderman Porter were not aware that this change was made until everyone else was made aware.

This raised the concerns of some, which led block party promoter, Roshawn Mays to reach out to the Humboldt mayor.

“When I had a meeting with the mayor, like the mayor told me these people have not been to the area in ‘x’ amount of years. And so it’s crazy how all of a sudden this year we do a big event and they come down here,” Roshawn Mays, said.

This parking lot was faced in front of many black owned business and brought in revenue during the festival.

“I think we need to take into consideration that we do have business people need a place to park at so, one of the things I’m trying to do is find out more about what done happened. Why it happened and try to get an understanding of where we at and what direction we need to go with it,” Vice Mayor McNeal said.

This tradition of coming together at the Crossing is something that they are missing during this year.

Monday May 20 at 5 p.m., Humboldt will have a Town Hall meeting at City Hall on the second floor for those who may have concerns.

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