Don't make downtown horses permanent, many readers say
Editor’s note: Here is a sampling of readers’ responses -- posted on times-herald.com -- to our Wednesday editorial, “Can we keep the painted horses as a permanent display.” The horses are in downtown Newnan and are a fundraising project to benefit a children’s museum.— I love the horses. My grandchildren want to go downtown to see them over and over again. Please let us keep them. It adds such a beautiful focus to our little town.
— The downtown horses are special and exciting because they aren’t permanent. Making the horses permanent would be a marketing mistake. With the talent around here, surely other outdoor exhibits can be idealized.
— The horses have been a delight. My sons and I walked and looked at them. They really enjoyed them. But if they stay, they will soon become un-special. I say find something else after July that will grab attention again. Maybe keep one big horse and one small one to have a remembrance.
— At first I thought they should be permanent, but now I think they should stay until fall when school starts.
— Since it is a fundraiser for a children’s museum, they should extend the stay a bit. Maybe some special fundraising kids day on the square. My three kids love the horses and want to have their picture taken with each of them.
— The horses belong to the sponsors, and I agree if they stay no one will even notice them. Let’s ask the sponsors if we can borrow them occasionally for special events. And let’s start thinking about plans for next year or the year after for something as special as this is.
— Simply beautiful. When you are walking around town looking at the horses, you run into your neighbors and people you haven’t seen in a while. We did it last Friday night and plan to do it again.
— They are very special and beautiful but leaving them would make us less appreciate their beauty and the wonderful talent of these artists. I was there last weekend with my 3-year-old granddaughter, and she had to visit every one of them.
— I love the horses but also agree that, once permanent, they lose some of their unique attraction.
— I like the horses, but they should not be permanent. The simple beauty of the courthouse and old downtown buildings are a work of art in their own right. They could keep Martin Pate’s horse because it blends in well with the surroundings.
— I like the horses, but they add nothing to the historic value of downtown. It’s only a matter of time before some drunk falls off one late at night.
— People are having their pictures made in front of the horses and then posting the pictures on Facebook. What a great form of free advertisement for downtown. The horses definitely need to stay for a while at least.
— Great as they are, the horses should be stored after July and brought out every spring. Otherwise, they will become weathered and even vandalized. Each spring they can be a great surprise.
— Please, please don’t make them permanent. I was one of many who enjoyed the horses this past weekend. I love them. Making them permanent, however, would be annoying and pathetic — like leaving your Christmas decorations up all year.
