Beer garden possible for July 4 celebration at Robe-Ann
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.