DarienFest Dispute Over Damage

DARIEN, IL — Two Darien entities are pointing fingers at each other over how to pay for damage to a park at last year's DarienFest. Because of the dispute, it remains up in the air whether the event will be held this year.

For a number of years, DarienFest has been held at Community Park, which is part of the Darien Park District. Last year, the district had to spend $6,204 to repair trail damage that resulted from a DarienFest vendor's heavy truck, said Stephanie Gurgone, the district's executive director. The district, she said, needs payment from the Darien Chamber of Commerce, DarienFest's organizer, before it approves use of the park this year.

In an email to Patch this week, April Padalik, the chamber's executive director, said the park district should handle the issue.

"The park district's allegation of damage is an insurance claim," she said. "The Darien Chamber has provided the park district with contact information of all parties involved. We leave it up to the park district to resolve the damage claim."

Gurgone, though, said it's up to the chamber to pay. She pointed to the license agreement for use of Darien park property: “Licensee shall be responsible for any damage done to Park property beyond normal wear and tear, and shall fully and promptly reimburse Park District for all costs and expenses incurred by Park District in repairing and/or remedying said damage.”

The agreement also states, “Licensee is solely responsible for the care, custody, and control of any and all property or equipment brought onto the property."

Gurgone said the chamber is responsible to pay the park district for any damage, regardless if it chooses to file an insurance claim. She added that the contract requires the Darien chamber to have a liability insurance policy.

In an interview, Padalik said she did not want to "pour gasoline" on the dispute and that it was "being blown out of proportion." She confirmed the district secured a liability insurance policy and got certificates of insurance for all the vendors. "All the park needs to do is file a claim," she said.

Asked why the chamber would not make the claim through its insurance carrier as part of the liability policy, Padalik said, "I'm not an insurance company. I won't get into semantics."

At this week's City Council meeting, Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese said he had been trying to get Gurgone and Padalik to meet about the issue. He said he doesn't want to see DarienFest canceled.

In light of the issue with the park district, Marchese said the chamber asked officials from Hinsdale South High School, Eisenhower Junior High and the DuPage County Forest Preserve for space to hold the fest. South decided against the idea because of ongoing construction, while Eisenhower did not want to host an event that included liquor, Marchese said. As for the forest preserve property, the carnival vendor said the uneven terrain would prevent it from setting up its rides.

Last year's DarienFest included a carnival, a car show and music. It has been held for 32 years.

Patch has left a message for comment with Marchese.