Airport’s pancake breakfast, Young Eagles rides and Climate Fest draw crowds; staff note ramp safety and volunteer shortages

Airport staff reported that the Young Eagles event provided airplane rides to about 45 children and that the pancake breakfast and car show drew a large crowd, especially in the morning. Organizers said the Young Eagles event ended early because of heat but that everyone who showed up got a ride.

Event organizers and staff raised safety concerns about pedestrian access to active ramp and taxiway areas during the pancake breakfast and other public events. One staff member said they had to be especially vigilant because people walked on the taxiway near active aircraft: “I had to have my head on slow because there were pancake breakfast people there walking down the taxiway,” the staff member said.

Staff also said traditional volunteer groups that previously helped with marshalling and crowd control, such as local cadet organizations, are participating less frequently. That has increased the logistics burden on airport staff and event organizers and prompted discussion of alternative volunteer or city support.

Separately, the city’s Climate Fest will be hosted at the airport during the week of events. Sarah Gardner, the city’s Climate Action Coordinator, said the program will include two tours of the solar array, a solar‑themed art exhibit with Public Space One, an on‑site demonstration of Project Sunroof and two videos on the airport’s solar project. “We’re very excited about the event we’re gonna be hosting here as part of Climate Fest,” Gardner said; organizers intend the event to introduce new community members to the airport and showcase the recently installed solar array.

Why it matters: community events foster public engagement with the airport and can raise support for projects, but safety management and volunteer availability must be addressed to ensure safe operations.

Next steps: staff said they will explore added messaging and crowd‑control measures, consider alternative volunteer groups (police service hours were suggested), and continue planning Climate Fest with city communications and partner organizations.