North Coast Music Festival organizers announced plans Tuesday to reduce noise and increase security this year as some Near West Side community members expressed concern about whether the three-day event is worth the hassle.
Max Wagner, a North Coast partner, said two teams of Chicago police officers will be added to the private security typically in place. The seventh-annual festival, which usually features electronic, hip-hop and jam acts, is set for Sept. 2-4 in Union Park.
Wagner said organizers have plans to reduce the number of performance areas that amplify sound from five in 2014 to three this year. He said there are also plans to test noise levels from buildings near the park, which is south of the intersection of Lake Street and Ashland Avenue.
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“We want to be a welcome member of the community,” Wagner said.
About two dozen community members gathered to hear Wagner’s presentation Tuesday at the Union Park Advisory Council meeting. Council president David Askew said organizers for other festivals that take place in Union Park, including Pitchfork Music Festival, have also been invited to meet with residents.
A Park District official said rapper-turned-actor Common’s AAHH! Fest is also expected back at Union Park in September after taking a hiatus last year.
Community members said Tuesday they worry about noise and a lack of investment in the park by North Coast organizers.
Wagner said the festival’s organizers typically give $5,000 each year to the advisory council, on top of the permit fee paid to the Chicago Park District. Wagner said no money was given to the advisory council last year because the festival had a “very poor financial year.”
Wagner said there are plans to give $10,000 this year to make up for last year.
“Ten thousand dollars is not enough,” said June Kirchgatter, who said she could hear the festival last summer from her West Loop condo.
Kirchgatter said her neighborhood doesn’t have much green space and the festival limits access to the park.
Other residents expressed concern about the rowdiness of the crowd, which is restricted to patrons 17 years and older. About 15,000 people attended the festival each of the three days last year, Wagner said. Capacity is 20,000.
Deprice Hunt, 19, said he’s worked the festival the last five years and stressed the event’s importance in creating jobs for nearby residents.
Hunt said he has delivered ice and water to vendors for $10 an hour, money he used to buy clothes and food.
“This has been a huge opportunity, a life-changing opportunity,” Hunt said.
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