Sheila McNary has had a somewhat complicated relationship with Riot Fest over the years. The 71-year-old North Lawndale resident lives across the street from Douglass Park.
When the festival moved to the park in 2015 — following complaints from neighbors at its previous location in Humboldt Park — McNary said it almost felt like the community was being overrun by unfamiliar music and traffic jams. . McNary and her husband went to stay at a hotel for the weekend.
“When they came in, it was more or less like a band coming to enjoy a big festival in the community they’re not from, the music wasn’t coming from the community,” said McNary, who is involved in North Lawndale. Community Coordinating Council.
The rock, punk and hip-hop festival has long been a source of controversy for the West Side park, surrounded by North Lawndale, a predominantly black neighborhood, and the largely Latino Little Village. That sparked a movement to evict the huge crowds that activists say have trashed the green space, while cutting off access to half the park. Two other major music festivals previously held in the park have also moved, while the free Nineteenth Village Celebration will take place on Saturday.
But over time, McNary said the relationship has improved, with more community involvement, free space for local vendors and jobs. When she learned the festival was moving to southwest suburban Bridgeview in September, McNary said she was shocked.
Riot Fest officials reached this decision after years of controversy. They had tried to appease the activists with mentorships, jobs, coat and book drives, and donations.
The decision’s announcement Wednesday came just before the Chicago Park District considered allowing the festival for another year, which became moot.
Riot Fest organizer Mike Petryshyn, known as Riot Mike, released a statement online blaming the departure “only” on the Park District. “Their lack of care for the community, you and us, ultimately left us with no choice,” he said.
The Park District released a statement in response saying it “has worked tirelessly to balance the interests of the community and our special event organizers.”
“Community voices are essential to our decision-making process,” the release added, “which is why a comprehensive community engagement process is a necessary element in evaluating a permit application.”
To further complicate the picture, the festival will take place at SeatGeak Stadium on the same weekend of September 21 that the Chicago Red Stars women’s professional soccer team is scheduled to host a game. Sources told the Tribune the team was considering legal action if the festival forced them to relocate.
Chicago Red Stars May Take Legal Action Over Riot Fest’s Move to SeatGeek Stadium: ‘It’s Devastating’
Bridgeview officials released a statement Thursday saying the Red Stars’ contract allows other events to take place at the same time.
Teams that have played in the stadium, including the Chicago Fire men’s soccer team, the Chicago Hounds rugby team and the Red Stars themselves, have moved games or worked cooperatively to host simultaneous events without problem, according to the press release.
With Riot Fest scheduled to take place in the parking lot outside the stadium, the Red Stars were informed in April of the possibility of having to move their game. Village officials said they will work with the team to ensure “an optimal experience” for fans that day or whenever they choose to play the game.
The team recently set an attendance record with 35,000 fans at a single game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs will play at Wrigley on September 21, but the guaranteed rate field is open while the White Sox are away.
Cultural events in Chicago’s parks generate $20 million a year for the Park District and tax revenue for the city.
Asked if he considered the departure a loss for the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson instead pointed to other neighborhood and downtown festivals.
Johnson added that he was still collecting information to better understand possible “communication breakdowns.”
“We’re going to figure out where those gaps are and find opportunities where we can either build, repair or create,” he said.
Bridgeview officials said they are trying to maximize revenue for their taxpayers. A municipal tax could raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ald. Monique Scott, whose 24th Ward includes the park, blamed the Park District for the festival’s departure. Riot Fest’s rent increased from about $300,000 to $700,000 last year, she said. The Park District did not meet with organizers when they asked to discuss the cost, she added.
Meanwhile, despite initial approval from Park District trustees, the district board has yet to approve the festival’s permit, calling into question the festival’s ability to use the park, a Scott said. The uncertainty made it difficult to move forward.
“The Park District was asking for fees, but not giving them full assurance that they would be approved by the board,” Scott said. “When you have 50,000 people a day, you have to reserve numbers.”
Scott worked in the district as an Ellis Park supervisor before taking office. His late father, Michael Scott Sr., was chairman of the Park District board under former Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Similar pressures led the Summer Smash music festival to move from Douglass Park to Bridgeview last year, Scott said. With this latest departure, the park will lose its modest 10 percent share of the festival’s $700,000 permit, which previously helped repave a trail and address flooding issues at a pond, Scott said.
The West Side neighborhood will also lose jobs and a rare influx of hordes of people.
“We don’t have a lot of traffic in this community,” Scott said. “This is the only time our community can say there are 50,000 people in a day, so they have to eat and go somewhere.”
Organizers have made changes in recent years to reduce noise and keep more of the park open during the festival, she added.
“Where resources have been low, they have actually been very helpful,” Scott said. “The park needs to do better in how it processes these permits.”
Resident Florina Florea didn’t exactly say good riddance — but she was happy to see Riot Fest leave Douglass Park.
“I was never against Riot Fest, but it wasn’t an appropriate location,” said Florea, who can see the park from her window. “This is about the Chicago Park District abusing its power. They desperately need money to privatize these public spaces. It should be a community space for people.