While the Saxonburg Firemen's Carnival serves as the kickoff of summertime activities in Butler County and presumably will continue doing so indefinitely, the Island neighborhood in the city of Butler will be losing its annual Bicycle Rodeo, which has marked the start of summer here for more than a decade.

It's unfortunate that an event so much a part of the Island's identity must give way to changes — albeit, positive changes — that lie ahead in that neighborhood.

According to Island businessman Dennis Offstein, the loss of the former Island playground, whose location is the future site of a community center tied to the West End redevelopment project, will leave no place for the rodeo to be held beyond this year. Meanwhile, the city's decision not to provide logistical support for the event beyond Friday, because the city no longer owns the playground property, has cemented the event's destiny as a former ingredient of Summertime Butler.

It's understandable that Offstein has been reluctant to agree to hold the rodeo in early May in conjunction with the Safety Walk in the Park, an event sponsored by the Butler County Safety Council and the city. Under such a setup, the bicycle event would lose its Island identity and become a "second fiddle" to the safety walk program.

There also is the issue of colder weather that often remains entrenched here during the first half of May. The rodeo always has been organized as a hot-weather event.

Nevertheless, Offstein and others who have helped him stage the rodeo should continue to discuss possibilities associated with that city safety event while also continuing to explore whether there are any vacant-land possibilities in and around the Island that might allow for future Island-centered bicycle events.

The city government should have an interest in expanding positive summertime activities, rather than opting for combining activities and limiting children's opportunities.

Because the city no longer owns the former Island Playground location — the Housing Authority owns it now — city leaders are to be commended for agreeing to the logistical support that will be provided this year, including trash cans, orange cones for traffic control, two temporary stop signs, a fire truck and a police officer. In addition, the city will release bikes not needed for evidence for distribution at the rodeo.

Unfortunately, barring some unexpected development between now and next year, this Friday in June 2008 will be less exciting and activity oriented than it's been for more than a decade in the city.

Such a possibility merits serious reflection and rethinking by city leaders, whose responsibilities extend beyond fixing streets, public safety and paying bills.