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Taste of Des Plaines Will Stay Downtown


The Taste of Des Plaines, the city’s annual beginning of the summer festival, will continue to be held in the downtown area.

Seven of the city’s eight aldermen Monday night expressed support for not moving the Taste’s location agreeing that downtown is the best spot for the two-day event. Ald. Carla Brookman (5th) was the only dissenter arguing that it should be relocated to either Prairie Lakes Park or Lake Park. She said the Taste, usually held in early June, becomes too crowded. 

Local decision makers have considered moving the location of the Taste before, only to decide to keep it downtown. 

The event is usually held along Ellinwood Street east of Lee Street to an area east of Pearson Street. Featured are performances staged by local talent, several mostly tribute rock n roll bands, food vendors, and local businesses.

“We feel downtown is best,” said City Manager Mike Bartholomew who provided aldermen a list of pros and cons of keeping it downtown or moving the festival to another spot. “The time of year it’s held is important. It always seems to rain in June.” He explained that if it rains, the Taste can resume in a few hours because it operates on downtown streets. If it’s held at a park setting, the rain that’s been soaked into the ground could force a much longer delay.

Ald. Brookman asked if any thought had been given to holding the event later in the year like mid-July. Bartholomew responded that the Taste could be held any time council members want. He added that it’s held in early June because it is one of the year’s first fests in the suburbs that kicks off the summer season.

Ald. Denise Rodd (3d) said she conducted a poll of residents who overwhelmingly said they prefer the downtown site. Brookman said she also did a survey that showed strong support for moving it to either Lake Park or Prairie Lakes Park.

Community Services Committee chairman Ald. Andrew Goczkowski (8th) suggested that steps be taken to improve the event, which last year cost the city $35,000, said Bartholomew. The manager was also directed to provide aldermen with more information about similar events held in Schaumburg and Naperville to see if Des Plaines can learn from their experiences.

 

 

 

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