NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
21 June 2004

PERMANENT DISPLAY AREAS—“THE COWMONS”—AVAILABLE FOR COW PARADE AFTER WEEKEND AUCTION

Harrisburg, PA—The 2004 Cow Parade in the city and region was “a smashing success by any measure,” said Mayor Stephen R. Reed. “Arrangements are now in place to make much of it longer-lasting.”

Reed today announced the creation of “The Cowmons,” where painted cows can be placed on long-term or shorter term display even after they are sold at the Cow Parade Auction, set for the West Hall of the PA State Farm Show Complex this Saturday (June 26) at 7:00 p.m. and preceded by a 6:00 p.m. reception there.

Some of the cows were purchased by sponsors at the time they were first painted and these are not being sold at the auction. These cows still remain in various locations in the city and elsewhere. The majority of the cows, however, will be sold to the highest bidders.

“We are offering free space for the return of any and all of the cows so they can continue to be viewed and enjoyed by the public,” Reed said. “Of the 136 cows, 111 of them were placed in the city during the past several months. Most of them were in and around the downtown and because many could be seen at one time, it attracted swarms of people, including bus tours from out-of-town.”

The “Cowmons” areas will therefore be at select sites in Riverfront Park, City Island, in public space areas of the downtown and in Reservoir Park at the National Civil War Museum area.

“Anyone already owning or buying a cow at the auction, who wants a place to display a cow, can do so in Harrisburg, which has hosted most of the 2004 Cow Parade successfully these past months it has been on display. Owners can place them with us permanently, long-term or even for shorter periods of time and can even select a preferred “Cowmons” area if they wish,” the Mayor said.

Keeping the cows situated in designated areas attracts greater public visitation and allows for easier maintenance and security.

The city would place the cows into secure storage during the winter months since the fiberglass creations could suffer from below-freezing temperatures, snow and ice. They would be put back into public display in the Spring.

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