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Kingston residents press council on crowd and traffic plans for large Kirby Park concert
Summary
At the April 20 Kingston work session, residents pressed council and the administration for traffic, crowd-control and cleanup plans ahead of a free, ticketed Lady A concert in June that organizers have advertised as offering 20,000 tickets; borough staff said planning and police coordination are underway.
At the Kingston Town Council work session on April 20, resident Kim Krupsha urged municipal leaders to prepare for large crowds expected for a Lady A concert at Kirby Park in June and asked whether non-through traffic could be closed on Second Avenue to reduce neighborhood impacts.
Krupsha told Council that the proximity of her home to Kirby Park is “both a blessing and a curse” and described prior events that resulted in litter, vomiting on sidewalks and fireworks on residential tree lawns. She said recent room rearrangements in council chambers improved seating and overflow space for hearings and asked that the borough consider additional traffic controls for the concert.
Administrator Sondra Riviello said the borough is coordinating with the event planners and police. Riviello told Council she hoped to have answers by the next meeting or soon after and would share finalized traffic and crowd-control plans with the public. Council Vice President John Chernesky said the event had published that “20,000 tickets would be available,” and Riviello added the concert is a free but ticketed event.
Mayor Jeffrey Coslett said he and Riviello had visited the conditional-use site and that projects that begin with basic structures often become attractive once landscaping and community art are added; he said he wants more community-oriented projects and supports careful planning for neighborhood impacts.
Krupsha sought specific crowd-control measures used at past large events—she noted the borough previously placed barriers that limited streets to local traffic—and asked the administration to consider similar steps. Riviello said she had discussed crowd and traffic control with Police Chief Kotchik and would plan a conversation with the concert’s planning committee; she also said the borough would publicize any decisions about street closures or overflow traffic routes once they were finalized.
The council did not vote on any concert-related restrictions at the meeting; Riviello said the administration would return with more detailed plans for Council and public review.
