At a work session tonight, the Kalispell City Council will discuss a request to change a city ordinance to allow alcohol in Depot Park during Arts in the Park.
Kalispell resident Bill Goodman recently asked the city to allow the sale, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in the park during the Hockaday Center for the Arts presentation at Arts in the Park. Chief of Police Roger Nasset and Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Baker both submitted letters to the council recommending denial of the request.
Both letters were signed by City Manager Jim Patrick.
Nasset expressed concern that allowing alcohol for one event in Depot Park would open up the doors to alcohol being used in the park at other times.
“The vast majority of the social disturbance calls that our department deals with are alcohol related,” Nasset wrote. “I do not believe we want to subject our park users to potential alcohol-related problems.”
Baker said he wants to “continue to promote family and youth parks usage” in the city’s public park system, adding that the potential for additional maintenance costs is another reason to deny the request.