Rain, Lollapalooza crowds trash turf again
08/08/2012 2:45 PM
When Lollapalooza reopened after a severe thunderstorm Saturday afternoon, much of Grant Park quickly turned to mud.
MAXWELL RASCHE/OurVinyl.com
After another epic deluge in the middle of Chicago’s biggest music festival, Grant Park’s turf has been trashed once again, and repairs won’t be quick.
Bob O’Neill, head of the Grant Park Conservancy, the citizen group that weighs in on decisions concerning the city’s front yard, said Monday it’ll take some time to fix up the fields.
“It’s going to be another big clean-up and repair year,” O’Neill said. “The rain came down really hard and fast and deluged, so it flooded and there is a lot of mud.”
Last week, before the festival, O’Neill said it was unlikely that rain would cause as much turf damage this year, because unlike last summer it had been so dry recently.
O’Neill said most of the damage this year is to the turf, since the park’s bushes and flower gardens were mostly fenced off. Lollapalooza’s organizer, C3 Presents, has told O’Neill they’ll be paying for replacement of the sod again.
They’re aiming to get the repairs done much more quickly this year than last, when it took several months for the grass to be replaced. But O’Neill said major events that use the park, like the Chicago Marathon, make it difficult to find the right time to lay down the sod.
Nevertheless, he still believes the festival is beneficial to Grant Park.
“I think it is all worth it, given the millions of dollars that are raised for parks throughout the city, but also for Grant Park,” he said. “Grant Park is experiencing a renaissance like never before in its history, so it’s worth it.”
Photos by MAXWELL RASCHE/OurVinyl.com
We are no longer accepting new comments on ChicagoJournal.com
By Dennis from University Village
Posted: 08/09/2012 9:23 PM
Lollapalooza was great fun this year and really well set up, organized and managed. Congratulations to the Chicago Park District, C3 Presents, Grant Park Conservancy and City of Chicago!!!!!
By southloop from south loop
Posted: 08/09/2012 5:13 PM
"Grant Park Conservancy, the citzens' group" HAHA lol. Far from it