By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The Borough Council rescinded a resolution Monday night that it previously passed regarding the use of the Memorial Park parking lot for the upcoming Latino Festival.
The council had several discussions and raised concerns over the use of the lot to help host the third Latino Festival from noon to 5 p.m. on July 11 but ultimately approved its use with some stipulations during its previous council meeting.
Festival organizers want to move the event, which is free and open to the public, outdoors this year after previously holding it inside Hightstown High School.
The Borough Council found it necessary to rescind resolution 2015-134, which authorized the use of the Memorial Park parking lot, due to a venue change. The festival will take place in Rocky Brook Park instead of the originally planned venue — Memorial Park.
Parks and Recreation Commission Chairwoman Stacey Judge took a few minutes during the public comment portion of the meeting to address concerns and rumors she heard being spread around the town regarding the change of venue.
“I came this evening actually in response to some interesting emails and hearsay going around about park events,” Ms. Judge said. “Parks and Recreation has supported a growing amount of programming over the last 10 years that I have been part of the commission. Whether it is a (Parks and Recreation)-sponsored program or a local interest group, our parks are a great place to host an event.”
She said when considering a permit request the most important issues for the commission to consider are safety and making sure the event is enjoyable for everyone.
“That includes event organizers and residents who may come out to attend,” she said.
She said Rocky Brook Park offers a safe and appropriate venue to a group scheduling an event with the possibility of 400 to 600 attendees. The commission has also sponsored large events at Memorial Park before, like the triathlon.
“This requires close to a dozen port-a-johns, six uniformed officers, and nearly 20 volunteers on a Sunday morning between 6 and 9 a.m. to ensure a safe event,” she said. “We felt that adding 200 to 300 more people into a space of less than one-acre might end up having more of a negative impact on our town than a positive cultural experience that all are hoping for.”
She said that the commission went through their list of parks and offered an alternative.
“We settled on Rocky Brook Park with close to eight acres, a gravel lot, a hard top area for a stage — it all seemed to fit the bill,” she said.
She said that commissioners, members of the public and event organizers who were present at the special meeting regarding the festival came away with a sense that it would truly be a successful event in a more spacious venue.
The Latino Festival is organized by the Hightstown-East Windsor Latino Festival Committee with support from Rise, local businesses and community organizations. The event is made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The multicultural program will feature music and dance traditions of diverse Latino communities and will feature educational exhibitions representing different Latin American and Caribbean countries, arts and crafts activities and traditional foods. The purpose of the festival is to promote intercultural awareness and understanding.
Ms. Judge said, “My suggestion to those who have continued to churn the waters and run the rumor mills to come to our meetings. Volunteer to help us with our upcoming events or at least be part of our many subcommittees. Please come out and put that time and energy to good use for our community.”
