Chicago Park District gives Riot Fest official approval for return to city

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago Park District has officially approved Riot Fest returning to Douglass Park on the West Side two weekends from now, after the music festival had previously said it was moving to the suburbs.

The vote was a victory for local business leaders, who cited a boost in revenue from people visiting the festival, but some Chicagoans said they wish it would stay away.

“You know, it goes without saying how disappointed I was to get the news that after thinking that we're gonna have a September, you know, free of Riot Fest that they were coming back,” said Joel Novak, who lives and works near Douglass Park.

Activists say Riot Fest disrupts the community and causes environmental damage to the park. They also say the City should charge a higher permit fee.

“Regardless of this Park District administration or who's sitting on the fifth floor at City Hall, we continue to get served up the same platter of entitled NFL franchises, community polluters and festival organizers who believe their want for our public space supersedes our need for transparent, equitable and driven by the community processes,” said Mary Lu Seidel with Friends of the Park.

Published reports say the permit fee for this year’s Riot Fest is $675,000, but community members say the music festival should pay more than $1.2 million and should also cover the costs of transporting young people to other parks.

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