Published: April 09, 2008 07:42 pm            

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORAL: With stiff rules, city should OK alcohol sales for park events

TERRE HAUTE — Even in tough economic times, Terre Haute’s public parks have been a point of pride for nearly all citizens. The last few weeks, though, a parks issue has become a people divider: Whether to allow alcoholic beverages to be sold at some special events in one of our green, public spaces.

Tonight the City Council is to vote on a proposed ordinance amendment that would permit limited availability of such beverages in Fairbanks Park at events sponsored by non-profit organizations or government entities.

Folks against the proposal are the most passionate and vocal. They view any alcohol in any city park for any reason as an assured threat to the safety of children and the well-being of family recreation.

Their arguments against the vending of beer, wine or liquor in Fairbanks are as much about alcohol, in general, as about a possible sales venue. Their stance begins and ends with worst-case scenarios and would prohibit for all because of presumed misbehavior by a few.

Those who support the sale of alcoholic beverages for limited occasions in Fairbanks see the proposal as an enhancement of a concert, festival or celebration. Many such events occur in blocked-off city streets or parking lots each year, these folks point out. The ordinance amendment simply would allow a few of them to be held in Fairbanks without attendees forfeiting the pleasure of a cold beer or a glass of wine to accompany a plate of cheese.

Proponents of the change cite a long list of must-do’s that the amendment demands of organizers of such events. Among them are organizers paying for a proper number of uniformed police based on estimated crowd size; $1 million in liability insurance; special permits from the city and from state licensing and control agencies; use of licensed caterers, and physical as well as visual separation of the area of alcohol sales from the rest of the event.

Combined with the can’t-do’s — You still can’t bring your own cooler, flask or bottles of wine into any city park — these strict, costly requirements will limit the frequency of such events to barely a handful per year, say amendment backers.

We are inclined to side with these folks. The amendment policy has addressed and covered just about every potential problem. Any fears of rowdy family or fraternity reunions built around multiple keggers should be abandoned. They can’t happen under the amended ordinance.

Meanwhile, parents who don’t want their children or themselves exposed to drinking adults could steer clear of the alcohol vending area, choose from among hundreds of other days in which they can enjoy an alcohol-free Fairbanks Park or, on the rare day or night in which alcohol will be vended in Fairbanks, they can visit any of Terre Haute’s other wonderful parks instead.

        

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