DGreport.com

Rotary picks up the pieces; fits them together in a smaller package.

As soon as council whacked funding for Heritage Fest last December there was a resulting hue and cry of DG angst that generated 6,195 FaceBook supporters.  As soon as it was clear Heritage Fest was not going to receive funding, the DG Rotary Club, presided by Barb Wysocki, went to work.  They had cancelled their annual Octoberfest in 2009, and no Heritage Fest meant no money for Rotary charity recipients.  That annually totals tens of thousands of dollars that Rotary donates to dozens of different causes.  With no Heritage Fest, Rotary had no charity fund raising function.  Big problem.

The pressure was on and Tuesday Rotary unveiled for council a Community Events Commission approved proposal for what looks like a hybrid event that might just do the trick: Grove Fest.

Proposed for July 15th through July 18th on west side only of downtown, Downers Rotary Fest would provide a similar variety of features and activities, but on a smaller scale:

• A single music stage focused on local talent instead of more expensive band bookings.
• A beer garden with a larger more extensive food area.
• An area specifically for non-for-profits to fund raise, sell non alcoholic beverages, and have a presence.
• A scaled down selection of carnival rides.

The event would close Forest from the tracks south to Curtiss.  It would use that two block stretch, the library parking lot, and the permit parking lot between Burlington and the tracks.  Main Street, Curtiss Street, all businesses downtown would remain open.

Heritage Fest in happier economic times.

A ton of planning has already been put into this by Rotary, with particular attention paid to plenty of volunteer staffing to help out.  Having professional planners as members helps out.  Projected attendance was pegged at 25,000 for the three day event, which might be low.  The number of Porta-johns is critical, especially if attendance blows past 25K, which might well happen given the lack of other local events and past attendance of Heritage Fest.

Rotary will pay all village costs actually incurred, will pay up front as well as post a Letter of credit for 120% additional.  The village will track all expenses and make sure Rotary pays for all municipal services used, including all police and EMT’s.

Wysocki assured council they can run the event safely and effectively.

HF helped many NFP's.

Their goals are to raise money for Rotary, a lot of which goes back to community.  She felt by doing this event this year it would also help bring the community together in hard times.  She noted that, as Heritage Fests in the past have done, businesses will benefit, restaurants will benefit, and NFP’s will benefit Saturday and Sunday.

Past HF’s have decidedly built business for downtown merchants not only by providing a huge weekend crowd of customers, but also by exposing local businesses to those unaware who they were or where they were located.  The 2009 Community Events Heritage Festival Economic Impact Survey estimated Heritage Fest alone generated over $5 million worth of business for DG businesses.

The Downtown Management Group, Wysocki said, was very supportive when they met putting together the proposal.  Dr. Mark McDonald, D99 Superintendent, again volunteered use of DGS parking for staging and off-site storage.

Regular parking will apply.  Other brother clubs and community volunteers will help.  Scouts and other NFP’s can sell water on Saturday and Sunday.  If more than 20 want to do it Rotary will take applications and do a lottery.  The Farmers Market will be open that Saturday, as the two events are held in different spots and at different times.  Businesses will be open.  A DG police officer and Rotarian will man the RR Crossing on Forest at all times.

There was some concern expressed by council about what if it gets out of control.  I missed if anyone asked how beer sales would be segregated from the rest of the event or if it would be in its own area at all given the smaller venue.

Volunteers will be posted at entrances allowing gates to be closed if it gets too crowded, if too many people show up.  Village Manager Dave Fieldman and Community Events Director Mary Scalzetti will be on-hand so the village can be proactive, if need be, to any problems.

Jim Stahulak of the Downers Grove Arts Council spoke and said his group also has a proposal in for review, and asked if council might wait on approval until staff had time to go over their planned event.  Their usual is a fall event, but they also have a plan in that incorporates more HF-like elements.  The DGAC includes the Music Club, Choral Society, West Towns Chorus, Grove Players Community Theater and New World Repertory Theater.  Leading community advocate Gordon Goodman asked if there might be a more inclusive street fair element that might be brokered between these two groups, to seek synergies that might broaden the scope and appeal to attendees, and help more civic groups with the fund raising aspect that Heritage Fest provided so well.

Council will decide next week how to proceed with the Rotary Club proposal.  Keith Hoffman of Rotary has asked residents to attend as a show of support, as has Rachel Pineda, who organized the FaceBook effort.

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