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Commission approves volunteer Halloween decorations in Franklin Woods with safety conditions
Summary
The Parks and Environmental Commission on Oct. 13 approved volunteer Halloween decorations in Franklin Woods for mid‑October through early November, requiring safety measures and localized volunteer oversight.
The Parks and Environmental Commission voted Oct. 13 to allow volunteer Halloween decorations in Franklin Woods for a short, seasonal period in mid‑October through early November, provided organizers meet several safety conditions and remove displays promptly after the holiday.
Supporters told the commission the volunteer event, organized and staffed by neighborhood volunteers, draws families, encourages safe outdoor activity and costs the city nothing. “It provides accessible Halloween activities for families who might not be able to afford, you know, a haunted event,” citizen Betty Perchoff told the commission during the citizen comment period.
Commissioners and staff discussed liability and public safety before adopting a motion that permits the displays on a defined schedule and with conditions. Commissioners required that nothing hang across or over the trail, that no items present an entanglement hazard for people or animals, and that hanging items be secured at a minimum with two points of contact. Organizers said displays would be removed shortly after Halloween; the presenter said volunteers planned to take decorations down by the first weekday after Halloween and indicated a removal target of about Nov. 3.
Organizers offered additional mitigations: temporary signage at primary trailheads noting the displays are volunteer projects and a contact point for concerns, and a small donation bin for nonperishable items that volunteers collect and forward to local charity partners. Department of Public Works staff said they would consult the city attorney if complaints or liability questions arose.
The motion passed by voice vote. The commission and staff said the city attorney could still advise that the displays be curtailed if legal counsel deems the liability unacceptable.
The commission asked organizers to provide dates, contact information for an on‑site point of contact, and a short safety checklist to planning or public works staff before displays are placed in the woods.
