Riot Fest Releases Statement On Plans To Repair Grounds Damage Exacerbated By Rain

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 17, 2014 8:30PM

Riot Fest is in the midst of assessing the damage done to Humboldt Park when rain, mixed with teeming crowds of music fans, turned a good portion of the festival's grounds into a mud pit. We spoke with Riot Fest co-founder Michael Petryshyn last weekend and, at that time, he was already looking into how to repair the damage done by the rain and leave the grounds better than the festival found them. He elaborated on those plans in a public statement today.

Petryshyn's full statement follows:

Riot Fest is grateful to the City of Chicago and specifically the residents and businesses of Humboldt Park. The Park is really the star of Riot Fest, and we know it is the key reason why it makes the community one of the best in the City. And, I speak from experience, I live just steps away from the Park, and enjoy it almost daily.

Because the Park is as important to me as it is to the City, we will make certain that the Park be restored as soon as possible. Indeed, not only do we want the park restored, we want it improved. I have directed our staff to initiate meetings with the Park District on how we can partner with them to make permanent infrastructure improvements over the coming months. We want to improve the Park, because we want to make it the permanent home of Riot Fest. We don’t take our commitment to the community and the park for granted.

If Riot Fest, alongside the Chicago Park District, can rehabilitate the park to the needed standards (beyond reseeding and aeration), the entirety of the 26th and surrounding wards—it's residents and businesses—only stand to benefit. And, that's what we want. Make no doubt about it: as a resident of Humboldt Park, I want to be the leader in making Humboldt Park Chicago's best and most modern natural resource. And, I know I can.

As we mentioned yesterday, how much this will cost won’t be known until a Thursday walkthrough is conducted to fully assess the damage, but we'll keep you up to date with organizer's plans in regard to the park grounds.