Riot Fest 3-year deal to remain in Douglass Park approved by Chicago Park District

At its monthly meeting on Wednesday morning, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners granted Riot Fest a three-year permit to continue to stage the event in Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive, brushing aside critics who voiced their concerns ahead of the vote.The deal will generate $3 million to $4.5 million for the Park District over the course of the new agreement, according to Lauren Quinn, the district’s deputy director of revenue. Of that, she said, roughly $900,000 to $1.2 million will go toward Douglass Park improvements, and residents will be able to weigh in on how to spend the money through a participatory budget process this spring.The deal also comes with a possible two-year extension.Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District Carlos Ramirez Rosa speaks during the board’s Wednesday morning meeting where members approved a three-year extension for Riot Fest at Douglass Park.Manuel Martinez/WBEZLocal Ald. Monique Scott (24th) was not at the board meeting, but she has the festival and said the event gives the area an economic boost. But some of traffic congestion, trash and noise that they say the festival brings to the area.“We’ve seen the damage in Douglass Park,” community activist Florina Florea told the board before the vote. “Torn-up fields, weeks of lost access [to the park], safety concerns and harm to residents who rely on this park every day, year after year.”“Why not seek a venue that supports 55,000 people a day without fencing families?” she questioned. “And why a three-year deal before asking the right questions and listening to those who are most impacted?”Quinn said Riot Fest has hosted over 60 meetings with community stakeholders since the end of last year’s festival. Members of the community gather and speak about an extension to the Riot Festival contract during the regular board meeting of the Chicago Park District on Wednesday morning at the Sherman Park Field House.Manuel Martinez/Manuel Martinez/WBEZSharanda Morehead, the principal of LEARN Romano Butler School in North Lawndale, defended the festival. “Riot Fest provides invaluable opportunities for our youth as a community that often faces systemic barriers to cultural exposure,” Morehead said. “It offers my scholars and families access to world-class music, art and creativity. This is more than just a festival. It’s a platform where our youth can engage with new ideas, explore careers in the arts and entertainment and develop passions that could shape their futures.”Coya Paz Brownrigg was the only board commissioner who voted against the new permit. She asked George Herrera, Riot Fest’s director of community relations, to provide specific examples of how the festival provides jobs to the North Lawndale community year-round — a sticking point that was touted as one of the local-area benefits of the multi-year deal.Herrera could not provide examples of specific job titles but said they offer pay above the minimum wage.Pas said she went to Riot Fest last year, and was disheartened to see few local business owners among the vendors on site. Herrera said the festival is working on improving that this year. is scheduled for Sept. 19-21 in the park.