Neighbors Unhappy With DarienFest Plan

DARIEN, IL — DarienFest's new site has some neighbors upset. They fear property damage and drunk people walking near their houses.

In response, city officials say the police department will patrol the area.

For years, DarienFest has taken place at Darien Community Park on Clarendon Hills Road. But the Darien Park District barred the Darien Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event, from holding it again on park district property.

Last year, DarienFest was canceled because of the pandemic. Next week, Aug. 12 to Aug. 15, the event is planned for the parking lot at Darien Plaza, 8109 S. Cass Ave., where Q Bar is.

At Monday's City Council meeting, event organizers said they planned to encourage attendees to park on the east side of Cass Avenue, where Darien Plaza is, not in the neighborhood to the west of the thoroughfare.

Resident Arlene Sturgeon was among those who said she was unhappy about the planned fest near her house.

"They're going to park across the street and walk on my lawn, puking and peeing on my street. I don't have a fenced-in yard. They could sit on our lawn chairs if they're intoxicated enough," she said. "In regards to litter, am I responsible for picking up the trash after the event?"

Nearby businesses expressed concern as well.

Karen Rooney, manager of the Burr Ridge Veterinary Clinic, 8120 S. Cass Ave., said her business would be open during some hours of the event. She wondered if the chamber would cover the costs of any damage and questioned who would pick up the debris.

"If it's been at Darien Community Park, it concerns me that all of a sudden (park district officials) don't want it there anymore," she said. "I heard the park district is owed money for repairs."

Mayor Joseph Marchese acknowledged the dispute between the chamber and the park district. After the 2019 DarienFest, the district claimed the chamber owed $6,000 in damage to a trail, saying a chamber vendor caused the problem.

The chamber, however, contended the district should file a claim through its insurance company, even though the chamber took out the liability policy for the event. The mayor said the chamber paid for the damage.

Some businesses requested that DarienFest organizers give them barricades for their parking lots. However, the chamber's executive director, April Padalik, made no such promise. She said the group could provide signs directing where people to park and not to park. And she said the chamber could threaten to tow illegally parked cars.

"Other than that, that's all we can offer," she said.

Darien aldermen said they have heard no issues from residents near Darien Community Park about DarienFest.

"We have had DarienFest there for many years," Alderman Tom Chlystek said. "Most of it has been positive. We had residents across the street, and they have been fine. (DarienFest) showcases our businesses, and it's been good."

The City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the chamber for police services during the event. Aldermen Eric Gustafson and Thomas Belczak were absent.

DarienFest has been a local tradition for more than three decades. It features a carnival, bands, food and drinks, among other things.