Beer garden possible for July 4 celebration at Robe-Ann

Monday, March 9, 2020
Robe-Ann Park sign greets visitors from the Bloomington Street side of the Greencastle park.
Banner Graphic/Eric Bernsee

The possibility of including a beer garden for this summer’s July 4 celebration at Robe-Ann Park was presented to the Greencastle Park Board at its March meeting.

Park regulations currently prohibit alcoholic beverages within the friendly confines of Robe-Ann Park and all other city parks. However, the Friends of the Park organization, which is responsible for the Celebrate 4 activities at the park, is asking to have that regulation waived for the day.

Spokesman Craig Allison told the board Friends of the Park “want to build on the success of last year,” seeing the beer garden as “a great way to raise some money.”

The organization would like to use any funds raised via the beer garden to add to the fireworks repertoire and to cover the cost of a bounce house so that children could enjoy it for free.

“I think this would be really good to help grow our event,” Allison added, saying they “don’t want to limit the bounce house to those who can afford to pay” for a wristband.

“We had free face painting last year and we had a line the whole time,” he noted.

The beer garden, Allison proposed, would be in a section cordoned off near the bandshell. All beer and wine would be confined to that area. Access would be limited to those 21 and over.

He suggested a three- or four-hour duration for the beer garden prior to the fireworks.

Organizers believe the beer garden might draw more people to the park to enjoy the bands during the day.

Park Director Rod Weinschenk said he needed to meet with City Attorney Laurie Hardwick about the beer garden idea and any procedures necessary to allow it in the park for one day.

“The decision is ultimately yours,” Weinschenk told the Park Board.

Allison plans to return for the board’s April meeting with additional information and a more formal presentation about the beer garden.

Weinschenk admitted that he was “leery as park director” to embrace the project, fearing that it might lead to weekend family reunions wanting to have alcohol and people drinking in the park.

“You’re clearly opening a door here,” City Councilman Dave Murray, who was in the audience, commented.

Mayor Bill Dory likened the idea to First Fridays and the Greencastle Music Fest in which alcohol is permitted for those days only on the courthouse square.

“If it is a success,” he said, “other non-profits may come forward with a request to do the same thing. You may want to be thinking about setting some parameters.”

Park Board President Tim Trigg, meanwhile, likened the situation to the annual Crown Street Music Festival, which serves beer and wine in its confined quarters behind the Bottoms Community Center at 605 Crown St.

Celebrate 4 is scheduled on the Fourth of July this year, which is a Saturday.

In other business, the Park Board:

-- Approved the current slate of officers to serve again in 2020 with Trigg as president, John Hennette as vice president and Cathy Merrell as secretary.

-- Reappointed Trigg to serve on the City Planning Commission.

-- Approved the fee schedules included in the 2020-21 program guide as presented. The only change/addition is the inclusion of a corporate pool party rental for $2,500 for the period noon to 7 p.m. or a four-hour version for $1,600.

-- Heard that students in Jacob Widner’s Ivy Tech classes will devote two Fridays in April (17 and 24) to improving the Calbert Way shelter, painting or staining the structure and constructing a concrete pad around it.

-- Approved use of Big Walnut Sports Park and a shelter for the Saturday, May 30 Putnam County Hospital 5K run.

-- Heard an update on the request from the Putnam County Youth Soccer Association to replace the current split-rail fencing at the Big Walnut Sports Park soccer fields with six-foot black vinyl chain link fencing. Mayor Dory indicated the Redevelopment Commission has some interest in the project but will require the project to go out for bids.

-- Heard an update on the interior improvements at the Greencastle Aquatic Center. Energy Conservation Solutions has basically finished the interior with the floors done, walls painted and ceiling painted. Partitions for the men’s locker room are still awaited, while the women’s side is reportedly done.

-- Heard an update on the aquatic center exterior project, which is reported as “right on schedule” with Graves Construction, Switz City, earning compliments for how clear its site has been. The pool slide has been removed and Graves was approved for a payment of $32,112 for Phase I of the project. Also approved was a change order for an additional $4,069 for a six-foot by six-foot gate to secure the chemical area. The gate had been inadvertently left off original specs, Weinschenk said.

-- Heard that the annual Easter Egg Hunt is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4 at Robe-Ann Park.

-- Approved Greencastle Christian Church to again sponsor free family concerts during June (Mondays, June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29) from noon to 1 p.m. in conjunction with the summer food program in shelterhouse No. 2.

-- Announced the winners of the Snow Sculpture Contest as Sophia Blanton, first place, youth; Gary Bowser, first place, family; and Linneweber family, first place, group.

-- Approved Dr. Hennette’s annual pool party for his patients and families from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 10.

Joining Trigg, Hennette and Merrell for the two-hour meeting was fellow board member Joanna Muncie, Mayor Dory, Councilman Murray, Park Director Weinschenk, Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger and Park Maintenance Supervisor David Bault.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2 at City Hall.

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  • I don't think allowing alcohol in our City park is a good idea. If you let one group do it, you will have several more wanting to do it. Keep our parks alcohol clean!!

    -- Posted by Falcon9 on Tue, Mar 10, 2020, at 3:57 PM
  • Why is it that what has been an alcohol free zone, now deems it appropriate to service alcohol at family affairs. Are Family Time events so bad that drinking is the only way to get through them. This decision needs to be rethought

    -- Posted by sierrasusanne on Wed, Mar 11, 2020, at 7:47 AM
  • Why cant people drink a beer because it tastes good? It doesn't have to be something negative or a way to drown out family events or make them tolerable.

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Wed, Mar 11, 2020, at 8:57 AM
  • *

    I think if you are going to let alcohol be consumed in the park, then people should be allowed to bring their own coolers and enjoy their beverage of choice. (Proscribing liberty on Independence Day just seems a little off-putting.)

    But if you do allow a beer garden: I recommend a bidding process for the running of it by a licensed outside company (a local company would of course be best) with a portion of the sales to go toward the celebration funding.

    I do agree with Rainbow6 that you will be opening a door - not that any others will HAVE to be approved but you will get more requests.

    Beer at the pool for adult swims...that could be a possibility as well.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, Mar 11, 2020, at 9:17 AM
  • Not a good idea to serve alcohol at the Aquatic Center.

    Accident waiting to happen.

    -- Posted by 3m50 on Wed, Mar 11, 2020, at 1:44 PM
  • *

    Life is full of accidents waiting to happen...might as well enjoy it.

    If it makes you feel better we can have everyone sign a waiver of liability.

    Or you could just not participate.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, Mar 11, 2020, at 2:38 PM
  • Trust me, waivers in this case don’t protect the city. It’s called failure to use common sense.

    -- Posted by 3m50 on Wed, Mar 11, 2020, at 3:05 PM
  • Opening the door isn't in anyway a good ideal. Mayor Dory likened it to Friday night on the Square but this isn't downtown it is a PUBLIC PARK! Open the door and the next thing will be Beer Gardens at the Soccer and Softball tournaments. What then beer at the Little League , softball, and youth soccer ?

    -- Posted by Workingthesoil on Thu, Mar 12, 2020, at 7:50 AM
  • *

    Oh noes!!!

    Responsible adults being able to make the choice of whether or not to have a beer!!

    Someone please fetch my clutching pearls!

    LOL

    Perhaps we should try to extend a little liberty and shrink the nanny state just a bit.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Thu, Mar 12, 2020, at 8:37 AM
  • Alcohol, public events, and children? Responsible adults? Whatever.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Thu, Mar 12, 2020, at 7:44 PM
  • *

    Jandbnor -

    Apparently you don't get out much...

    Every large sporting event has alcohol sales.

    The Indiana State Fair has a beer garden.

    And this may be hard for you to hear, but every day there are thousands of responsible adults sitting at home having a beer...in front of their children!!...and nothing bad happens.

    Maybe you just don't trust yourself. And that's fine.

    But just b/c YOU don't like something doesn't mean that I shouldn't have the freedom to enjoy it.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 8:41 AM
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