As Riot Fest crews set up in Douglass Park, Little Village, Lawndale residents push for music festival to leave

A sign expresses the frustration of many residents living near Douglass Park who say they’re fed up with the disruptions Riot Fest and other large concerts bring to their communities every summer. (Brian Rich/Sun-Times)

Residents living near Douglass Park in Little Village and Lawndale are bracing for a noisy weekend from Riot Fest — one they expect to be filled with parking headaches.

“Last week, we started to see the trucks entering with so many things,” said Irais Flores, a nearby resident who is also part of a Little Village community center. “It gives you anxiety and stress because you say, let’s see how it goes getting parking.”