Large Event Turnout Prompts Parks Board Changes
By: Zakk Gammon
Updated: October 5, 2012
The Evansville Parks & Recreation Board just updated its guidelines, allowing board members to suspend or revoke an event's permit if they believe the crowd is in danger or if they become unruly. It all comes after a firey performance at the Four Freedoms Monument that's getting a lot of attention, and it's not just coming from patrons.
"Evansville is a beautiful place. It's a beautiful town, a beautiful city," said Terry Hale of Evansville. He's one of several concerned over the number of people showing up at the Evansville Fire Family's performances Sunday evenings. Hale says he visits the monument with his grandson often, and he sees a lot of trash in the area Monday mornings after the events.
"If I see something laying around I'm going to pick it up and put it in the trash. It only takes a second," he said. He says he picks up trash all over the city for free. He does it, he says, because he believes in Evansville.
"Just because I don't want to see any dirty neighborhoods or trash laying around everywhere in the road," said Hale.
The City of Evansville is starting to take notice. This week, the Evansville Parks & Rec. Board changed its rules, giving the board the authority to suspend or revoke an event's permit if there's a concern for public safety or for city property.
Park Board director Denise Johnson stresses the Evansville Fire Family hasn't done anything wrong, but with all the people coming to this area to see it, Parks officials want to make sure nobody's getting hurt, and no one is damaging this part of the River City's history.
"They are probably averaging somewhere between 500 and a thousand people (a weekend)," she said. "We're glad people are coming out. We're glad they're on the riverfront, and taking in all of the space down there and the monument; we just want to protect that and make sure everyone is in a safe environment at the same time."
Hale says he's glad to hear the city is doing something, but he says time will tell if it actually works.
"Somebody's got to do it," he added.
Officials from the Evansville Fire Family say the support the Board's new rules, "110%." The new rules went into effect on Wednesday.
"Evansville is a beautiful place. It's a beautiful town, a beautiful city," said Terry Hale of Evansville. He's one of several concerned over the number of people showing up at the Evansville Fire Family's performances Sunday evenings. Hale says he visits the monument with his grandson often, and he sees a lot of trash in the area Monday mornings after the events.
"If I see something laying around I'm going to pick it up and put it in the trash. It only takes a second," he said. He says he picks up trash all over the city for free. He does it, he says, because he believes in Evansville.
"Just because I don't want to see any dirty neighborhoods or trash laying around everywhere in the road," said Hale.
The City of Evansville is starting to take notice. This week, the Evansville Parks & Rec. Board changed its rules, giving the board the authority to suspend or revoke an event's permit if there's a concern for public safety or for city property.
Park Board director Denise Johnson stresses the Evansville Fire Family hasn't done anything wrong, but with all the people coming to this area to see it, Parks officials want to make sure nobody's getting hurt, and no one is damaging this part of the River City's history.
"They are probably averaging somewhere between 500 and a thousand people (a weekend)," she said. "We're glad people are coming out. We're glad they're on the riverfront, and taking in all of the space down there and the monument; we just want to protect that and make sure everyone is in a safe environment at the same time."
Hale says he's glad to hear the city is doing something, but he says time will tell if it actually works.
"Somebody's got to do it," he added.
Officials from the Evansville Fire Family say the support the Board's new rules, "110%." The new rules went into effect on Wednesday.
