Board approves JuneFest footprint change and multiple event permits, with one pending insurance form

The Evansville Board of Public Safety on June 11 approved changes to the JuneFest road closure footprint and granted or conditionally granted several other special‑event permits for downtown and West Side community events.

For JuneFest, the Evansville Building Authority asked the board to alter the planned closure so the event would not block the entrance to the Back 40 parking lot. The board approved a new footprint that closes Ninth Street from just south of the Back 40 entrance to Ninth Street up to the Danks and Danks parking lot entrance just before the Locust intersection. The Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District, event sponsors and the Building Authority had agreed to the change, and the board voted to accept the updated closure.

Other approvals and conditions included: - Westside Nut Club: The board approved a Westside Nut Club member initiation procession scheduled June 17 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. that uses vehicles (about four), but the permit is conditioned on receipt of a corrected certificate of insurance (COI) acceptable to the board attorney. - Potter’s Wheel/Worship on the Block: The board approved a street closure on Jefferson Avenue from Governor to Judson Street for a community worship event on June 21 (7 a.m.–4 p.m.) with requested barricades. - Old National Events Plaza/International Jugglers Festival: Approved a closure of Locust Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Ninth Street on Monday, July 14, 8 p.m.–11 p.m., for a fire‑night demonstration area with food trucks; the Building Authority had no objections. - Dirty Dog Productions: Approved a closure of Adams from Second to the parking lot past Haney’s Corner Brewery for an art and music event on Saturday, Aug. 9 (5 p.m.–11 p.m.). - Evansville Pickle Festival: The board approved the Pickle Festival’s request to close Main Street from Sycamore to Ninth and Ninth from Sycamore to Locust for Sept. 5–7 evenings, with a modification requested by the Building Authority that Ninth Street remain open to the court’s parking lot entrance. The board reviewed a map and approved the layout presented, asking staff to circulate the updated drawing to the events center and to revisit the plan if stakeholders raise concerns.

Why it matters: these closures affect downtown access, courthouse parking and event logistics through the summer and early fall. The JuneFest change was requested because the original footprint would have blocked a parking‑lot entrance; the Pickle Festival approval includes a staff review and a stipulation to preserve the court parking lot access when necessary.

Most motions were made and seconded by unnamed board members and passed by voice votes. For the Westside Nut Club procession the board’s approval was explicitly conditioned on receiving a valid COI acceptable to the board attorney; Curtis, the city staff member who manages permits, said he would withhold the permit until that document is received and approved.

Several approvals noted that event sponsors had coordinated with the Evansville Building Authority and the Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District. The board asked staff to share updated maps with affected stakeholders and to return to the board if new issues arise.