Montcalm County public comments focus on Flat River Pride at McCarthy Park; commissioners take no immediate action

Montcalm County commissioners heard more than an hour of public comment on June 9 about an upcoming Flat River Pride event at McCarthy Park and took no formal action to cancel the park rental.

Organizers and supporters described logistics, safety planning and public-health benefits; opponents raised concerns about crowd size, parking, restrooms and an older county park ordinance that several speakers said has not been enforced consistently.

"This is not a private event. It's open to the public, welcoming everyone to celebrate inclusion," said Nathaniel Powell, a lifelong Montcalm County resident and speaker for event organizers. Organizers described a one-day festival with vendors, music and performances and said they had paid required fees and completed safety planning.

Voices of Flat River Pride officials told commissioners they had rented all three pavilions at McCarthy Park, rented six portable restrooms and arranged on-site medical support and volunteers. "Our estimate shows that up to a 170 cars can park along the main drive and into the designated parking areas," said Keegan Davis, who is coordinating parking for the event. He said overflow parking along M-91 could add another 27–66 spaces with proper signage and coordination.

Event leaders also said the festival team had arranged volunteers for traffic and safety, 20 first‑aid kits and on-site licensed medical personnel; a sponsor was identified for a medical tent and the sound system is a wedding‑style DJ setup planned to end by 7 p.m.

Many residents who oppose the event emphasized that their concerns were logistical rather than targeted at the people planning it. "The issue has been the park being run into a large group ... there is only two restrooms there for a large group," said Bob Goodnough, a neighborhood resident who requested the county address parking and restroom capacity.

Several opponents pointed to the county park ordinance and said it should be enforced or updated. Supporters countered that the ordinance has not been consistently enforced for years and that singling out this event would be unfair. "If this ordinance wasn't applied to weddings, reunions, memorial services ... then why is it now being brought up specifically for Voices of Flat River Pride?" asked John Hopple, a supporting resident.

Legal and policy perspectives were raised during public comment. Attorney Chris Yared told the board that Michigan civil‑rights provisions prohibit discrimination in public accommodations and that the county could face legal exposure if it canceled an approved, fee‑paid reservation for reasons tied to the nature of the event. "It would be a violation to just break this contract," Yared said.

Commissioners described a recent on‑site meeting with event organizers. "We met with the group at McCarthy Park. They did come off as much more organized than maybe I would have guessed," said Commissioner Charlie Maher, who said organizers demonstrated detailed plans for parking, sanitation and safety. Vice Chairman Peterson and others said they initially had concerns about a planned drag performance but were told it would be "tastefully done, fully clothed" and not sexual in nature.

The board did not vote to cancel the event. Commissioners described two practical paths for organizers: apply for a variance to the park ordinance or proceed with the approved reservation and risk potential enforcement actions by the sheriff or prosecutor if complaints are filed. "Leaving this ordinance in place does subject the group to complaints against the ordinance," a commissioner said during the meeting.

Several speakers framed the event as a public‑health and community issue: a mental‑health provider said affirming, visible community events reduce suicide risk among LGBT youth, and multiple local vendors and performers described the festival as family friendly and community focused.

What happens next: the reservation remains approved for the scheduled date unless a prosecuting authority or sheriff pursues enforcement under the existing park ordinance. Commissioners said they intend to consider updating the county park ordinance after this year’s events, including the Flat River Pride festival and a separate disc‑golf event, rather than immediately repealing it.

Representatives of Voices of Flat River Pride said they remain prepared to hold the festival as planned and to continue coordinating with county officials and the sheriff's office on parking, safety and other logistics.