City Of Williston Issues 3rd Pumpkin Patch Statement

The City of Williston has issued a third public statement addressing public claims that the Cottonwood Forest Pumpkin Patch is being shut down, saying those claims are inaccurate and have led to unnecessary confusion within the community.

According to the City, the Pumpkin Patch has never been ordered to close, nor has any action been taken to restrict its continued operation. City officials state the seasonal attraction remains open and will continue operating for as long as property owner John Cecil chooses to do so, with City support remaining in place.

City staff report that over several years, extensive time has been spent responding to requests related to the Pumpkin Patch and working collaboratively to address its seasonal nature.

The City also addressed references to a Planning Department memo that has circulated publicly. Officials say the memo did not state or imply that the Pumpkin Patch could not operate.

The City also stated that decisions regarding events beyond the Pumpkin Patch itself, including the cancellation of school trips last year, were made by the property owner and were not directed by the City.

The City reiterated that it has no intent to shut down the Pumpkin Patch.

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Below is the full release sent by the city on Wednesday:

"The City of Williston is issuing a third public statement regarding the Cottonwood Forest Pumpkin Patch.

At no point—past or present—has the City stated, implied, or taken action to close the Pumpkin Patch. The Pumpkin Patch remains in operation and will continue to operate for as long as Mr. Cecil chooses to operate it. The City continues to support its operation.

Despite this, the narrative that the City is shutting down the Pumpkin Patch continues to resurface publicly. That narrative is inaccurate and has caused unnecessary confusion and frustration within the community. To be clear, the City of Williston has never told Mr. Cecil that the Pumpkin Patch must close.

Over several years, City staff have spent significant time responding to requests related to the Pumpkin Patch and working to tailor solutions that fit its seasonal nature. This included multiple meetings, written guidance, site plan discussions, and direct collaboration with Mr. Cecil that ultimately resulted in the drafting of Ordinance 1139. That ordinance was drafted with Mr. Cecil’s input and included specific items he asked for, including allowing the Pumpkin Patch and similar seasonal attractions to operate without paved parking, reducing the number of permits required, and creating a clearer, more flexible pathway for seasonal operations. These provisions were not imposed by the City; they were developed collaboratively to address the needs that were identified.

More recently, a Planning Department memo has been referenced in public discussions in a way that suggests it was intended to stop or restrict the Pumpkin Patch. That is not accurate. The memo did not state or imply that the Pumpkin Patch could not operate. Its purpose was to explain what is already allowed today and to clarify how additional or expanded activities—such as longer-running vendor markets, flea markets, weddings, or multiple large events occurring at the same time—would need to be considered if pursued. The memo was meant to provide clarity, not limitation.

Planning and zoning frameworks exist in Williston and in communities nationwide. These frameworks are not designed to single out individual property owners. They exist to help manage basic considerations such as traffic, emergency access, infrastructure capacity, and compatibility

with neighboring properties. While the City has made meaningful efforts to be flexible and responsive to the unique nature of the Pumpkin Patch, it must also ensure consistency so that similar situations are treated fairly and predictably across the community.

Decisions regarding whether to hold events beyond the Pumpkin Patch itself are made by the property owner. This includes decisions such as the cancellation of school trips last year, which was Mr. Cecil’s decision and not the result of any City action or directive. Throughout this process, the City has worked extensively with Mr. Cecil’s input to shape a planning and zoning framework that fits the unique, seasonal nature of the Pumpkin Patch, and those collaborative efforts remain in place.

Mr. Cecil has not been silenced. He has communicated directly with the Mayor, Administration, several City Commissioners, the City Planner, Development Services Director, and Finance Director. Throughout these discussions, City leadership and staff have remained willing to listen and collaborate.

The City of Williston provides opportunities for public comment at every City Commission meeting. If Mr. Cecil believes there has been a misunderstanding or wishes to address his concerns directly, he is welcome to contact Administration to be placed on a City Commission agenda and speak to the Board of Commissioners.

The City of Williston cannot allow continued confusion to persist when the facts are clear. The City of Williston has no intent on shutting down the Pumpkin Patch."