Community Concerns Surround Lyrical Lemonade Festival 2022 Lineup

As the summer draws to a close, the debate surrounding music festivals in Douglass Park has reached a boiling point. Residents are voicing their concerns about the impact of events like Riot Fest and Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash on the community.

Last week's meeting between event planners and residents did not go smoothly, with many attendees expressing frustration with the lack of transparency and communication. The Chicago Park District requires festival organizers to hold at least one public meeting as part of their community engagement plan, but it appears that this requirement was not met in this case.

Friends of the Parks, a local organization, is urging the city to designate an outdoor concert space instead of relying on parks like Douglass. 'Right now, the whole talk with Soldier Field, that is definitely something that should be considered,' said Elvia Rodriguez Ochoa, Friends of the Parks.

Meanwhile, Unete La Villita, an organization based in South Lawndale, is part of a growing effort to keep music festivals out of Douglass Park. 'We lose access to it for roughly 45 days out of the summer, which means people don't get to run here, people don't get to bring their dogs, people don't get to have picnics with their families,' said Jose Manuel Almanza, Unete La Villita.

Residents are also concerned about the impact on the park's infrastructure. 'They don't do a good job cleaning up after, they're not being good neighbors, and enough is enough,' said Almanza. Riot Fest has called Douglass Park home since 2015, but residents are now hoping to stop the event from taking place in September.

This year alone, Douglass Park has hosted Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash in June and Heatwave Music Festival in July. The constant disruption is causing frustration among local residents who value their park's quiet spaces and community events. 'It's harder to come by quiet days in the park because it's often closed off when music festivals are being set up and taken down,' said Almanza.

As the Lyrical Lemonade Festival 2022 lineup remains uncertain, one thing is clear: residents will continue to voice their concerns until a solution is found.

Lyrical lemonade festival 2022 lineup