Humboldt Park Residents Ask Park District To Deny Riot Fest A Permit
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A group of Humboldt Park residents on Friday angrily called on the Chicago Park District to deny Riot Fest permits to perform the annual music festival in the park, after the grass was badly damaged during last year's festival.
"The main goal here is real simple. Deny the permit to Riot Fest," said Xavier Nogueras, with Humboldt Park Citizens Against Riot Fest.
Nogueras said the three-day festival trashes the park and limits access to the public.
"They say they fixed the park. Fine, we're gonna let them do the festival, then we're going to let them destroy the park, then we're going to let them fix the park. We're gonna let them do the festival again, destroy the park and then fix the park?" he said.
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Heavy rains and large crowds damaged the park during last year's festival, but Riot Fest organizers have said they are preparing plans and dedicated additional resources to make sure that doesn't happen again. Riot Fest first came to Humboldt Park in 2012.
Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) said he's not supporting the three-day festival's return to Humboldt Park, because local residents are fed up with damage from last year that has yet to be repaired.
The Park District has not yet issued a permit for this year's Riot Fest, but that hasn't stopped festival organizers from advertising "early bird tickets" for this year's festival on its website.
In a statement on its website, Riot Fest said, since 2012, the festival has donated more than $370,000 to not-for-profit organizations with $249,000 going to charities within the 26th Ward, such as Puerto Rican Cultural Center, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, the National Puerto Rican Coalition, and many more. Riot Fest has also been a sponsor and strategic partner of the Puerto Rican Festival & Parade since 2012.
