CHICAGO — As criticism mounts over the use of public parks for large-scale events put on by private companies, leaders at the Chicago Park District are moving to change their code to mandate a board vote to sign off on events with more than 10,000 daily attendees.
Park Board President Myetie Hamilton announced the proposal at Wednesday’s board meeting. Under current district practice, agreements that generate revenue are approved directly by the superintendent, skipping board sign-off and reducing the opportunity for the public to comment on such permits.
The announcement comes days before Riot Fest kicks off in Douglass Park, and weeks after festival management let go of an event organizer and apologized to the community for the “tone” of a neighborhood meeting meant to address neighbors’ concerns.
