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Council approves Heritage Days permit with route changes; organizers urged to notify downtown businesses
Summary
The City Council on July 21 approved the Heritage Days special event permit with route and closure changes and asked organizers to proactively notify downtown businesses of closures and timing.
The City of St. Paul Park City Council on July 21 approved the Heritage Days special event permit with changes to street closures and event layout and with expectations for organizer communication to affected businesses. Council member Conrad described the two main permit changes as: (1) Lincoln would not be closed this year for the Touch-a-Truck staging, and (2) the tractor pull would be moved to a longer pavement segment running roughly from Third to Fifth, with a closure up to Pleasant recommended by police and fire to prevent cross-track traffic. Conrad said the parade would assemble between First and Second and proceed to Heritage Park as before. Tony Flandridge, representing the Heritage Days committee, asked the council to consider officially reserving the third weekend in August and Heritage Park for the festival in future years. Council members responded that annual permits are issued each year and that a separate policy discussion would be required to set a recurring, reserved date or long-term park reservation. Council members and event organizers discussed several operational items: the water treatment facility will not be opened during the event this year; picnic tables and permanent benches are being considered for future park improvements; Public Works will assist with grading for a new bocce conversion coordinated with the Lions Club; portable handicap parking signs and no-parking signage will be used; and organizers were asked to prepare a flyer or map with closure times and distribute it to downtown businesses to reduce last-year communication complaints. Council member Hagerty asked about Third Street construction that begins July 28; staff said the first construction phase is Broadway to Ninth and that access would be maintained for driveways and events outside normal construction hours, and contractors would be made aware of Heritage Days weekend operations. A motion to approve the permit as discussed passed 5-0.
