Residents urge stricter McCarthy Park rules after large private rental; commissioners hear complaints

Residents told the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners on July 14 that a recent private rental at McCarthy Park created traffic and safety problems, left litter and exposed children to performances they described as inappropriate.

The comments came during the public-comment portion of the board’s regular meeting. Several residents asked the board to enforce the county’s park ordinance, limit how large private groups may rent McCarthy Park and return the park to its prior, primarily public use.

J.L. Hudson of Greenville said he walked into the park during the event and found performers “disrobing” and audience members waving money at dancers. “I was outside my house three quarters of a mile away at 3 p.m., and I could plainly hear electric guitars wailing away,” Hudson said. He told the board police declined to respond to a neighbor’s complaint and warned the county that if it does not protect the neighborhood “we’ll be forced to seek protection in the courts.”

Darla Waffle, who said she spoke with a longtime neighbor who has lived across the park since the 1960s, said she had never seen parking on lawns and vehicles exiting ditches to access the road. “Driving and parking on the grass ... almost causing accidents,” Waffle said, and she reported loud music, litter and “revealing dances” in view of children.

Ron Smith, who gave a Greenville-area address, said GPS-directed traffic created problems at his driveway and that vehicles and trailers had to brake suddenly, at one point causing horses in a trailer to fall. “I can’t ride my golf cart over there on the grass,” Smith said, describing damage and safety concerns around the park.

Speakers asked the board to limit rentals to one pavilion per group and to cap attendance — suggestions Hudson said would prevent the problems his neighborhood experienced. Hudson specifically cited “park ordinance section 31” and asked the board to enforce existing rules.

Vice Chairman Peterson and other commissioners listened and later asked county staff about future bookings. County Controller Brenda (last name not specified in the record) told the board a full-park wedding is scheduled later in the month; she said McCarthy Park has had multiple rentals and that the county will review how park rentals are managed going forward.

Board members said they plan to discuss the park ordinance after the summer season and review whether to keep the current rental approach or change it. Peterson noted the board had earlier discussed meetings with event organizers and that some neighbors had sought compromises that, according to speakers, were not implemented.

The public-comment period on this matter closed with residents urging clearer limits and stricter enforcement of park rules; the board did not adopt a new rule at the July 14 meeting but acknowledged the issue will return for further consideration.

For now, county staff said existing park rules remain in effect and confirmed upcoming park bookings. The board indicated it would take the comments under advisement and place park-ordinance revisions on a future agenda for consideration.