I'd also like to point out that the news item on our website is _notifying_ the community about an issue that will have some impact on Clark Park. As I wrote, the new Parks and Rec Department has not settled on its new events and permit policies. The FOCP's Large Events Committee (comprised of the people who host the Large Events (May Fair, the festivals, the flea markets, Woodland Ave. Reunion) has developed a schedule of events, we're not certain what Parks and Rec will do about the permits.
The issue with the insurance coverage is still, at this point, a _possible_ concern. As Darco pointed out, this is a requirement that the Fairmount Park Commission had for its parks; Rec hasn't had this kind of requirement. But now that these organizations are merging, it _may_ become a standard requirement. But we don't know yet. But this may be a good opportunity to ask for some advice. Let's say that Parks and Rec enacts this insurance requirement. Some of our Large Events hosts have the mans to obtain insurance coverage, but others (like the Festivals) don't. There must be some mechanism by which an organization can obtain coverage for a one-off event. If there is, we can add it to our Large Events FAQ so people can continue to hold events in the park. On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 4:51 PM, Lalevic, Darco <[email protected]>wrote: > I guess my point is, I don’t see what is changing here and now that you’re > pointing out with the article on the FOCP website. I certainly agree with > you that government as a whole is encroaching on private rights – it’s been > atrociously bad since 9/11 (everything from the patriot act to the FCCs > recent ruling). > > But no, according to Philadelphia code, a permit IS permission – and in > fact it is against the law to hold an event on public park space with > greater than 75 people without a permit. Of course that’s not to say the > police wouldn’t harass smaller groups. But it’s not like that never happened > before – remember when the RNC was in town? If you’re going to bring the > supreme court into this, you’ll lose as almost every decision in the last 30 > years has encroached on personal rights. > > > > And every event I’ve held has been a non-profit event held under a 501c3, > and they still made me pay for police (who often enough weren’t even there). > > > > So, yes, while I agree with you that it does occur, my point is I don’t see > evidence of that one article pointing to a particular crackdown in Clark > Park. > > > > >
