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VisionWorks' Breakthrough Solutions
Community and Regional Success Stories
Twin Rivers Has Short-Term Success, Long-Term Vision – June 2002
When the citizens and leaders of McNab and Fulton start
something, they start in a big way. The two communities, located
near the confluence of the Red River and Little River in western
Hempstead County, have a combined population of fewer than 300
people. Yet when they held the First Annual Twin Rivers Festival the
weekend of April 27-28, it was a big success. "It turned out well,"
stated James Conway, Mayor of McNab. "1900 people came for the
two-day event, which was held on a 40-acre open field. We had 29
vendors with arts and crafts, antique cars, a domino tournament, arm
wrestling tournament, and a sack race for children from the
sheriff’s office. In addition, fourteen gospel choir groups came
from all over to perform, our high school band played, and 750
people went to church under a big tent on Sunday morning."
The festival was organized by the Twin Rivers organization, which
includes citizens and city council members from both communities, as
well as Fulton mayor Henry Hale and McNab mayor James Conway. Funds
raised from the festival will be used for new projects, including a
recreation center for senior citizens, after school programs for
children, a park with a pavilion, water park, and walking trail.
"In 15 to 20 years, we believe we are going to have our city back,"
states Mayor Conway. "We are looking for sites for a community
center, we are planning for water and sewer, International Paper may
donate 480 acres of land, and we are working with Judy Davis with
the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation to develop
commercial and warehouse space for the Poulan and Weedeater
companies located at Hope. She has been a great help." McNab and
Fulton are near I-30; they have access to rail, and they are next to
the Red and Little Rivers.
"We are excited about it all. If it had not been for VISION 2010
giving us insight into what small towns can do, we would never have
been successful," states Mayor Conway.
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