Before people began to pack the stands at Chris Taylor Alumni Field for the Chieftains’ home game against Allegan Friday, many stopped by the tent pitched in front of Beckwith Park downtown to see what was going on with the engineer scarecrow that had set up shop on Front Street that afternoon.

Volunteers with Wightman & Associates and the City of Dowagiac greeted people who visited the temporary park that afternoon during the city’s first ever Parking Day. Popping up for only a few hours that day, the event was a way to give visitors to downtown a fun way to spend a few minutes, as well as to solicit feedback about what people love about Dowagiac and what they would to see in the city. Around 100 people showed up to the event, with organizers receiving dozens of comments, which were posted on the scarecrow (which will be featured during next month’s Under the Harvest Moon Festival).