Plans for 'communitywide' block party worry Wheaton

Plans to transform an annual block party into a daylong fundraiser honoring the 40th anniversary of Woodstock could prove too grandiose for a quiet residential neighborhood in Wheaton.

Indiana Street residents living between Chase and President streets have been hosting a block party for more than two decades. Normally, a few dozen homeowners gather in the street to chat, eat home-cooked goodies and listen to music.

But expectations for the Aug. 15 party changed when organizers decided to commemorate the anniversary of Woodstock, the famed 1969 music festival. They came up with a "Giving Back to the Community" theme and decided the party should serve as a fundraiser for the People's Resource Center in Wheaton.

Problems started when seven bands agreed to perform and it was advertised as a communitywide celebration.

Now, with hundreds expected to attend, Wheaton officials say the event no longer meets the definition of a block party and have revoked the permit.

Meanwhile, there's no guarantee organizers will get the "special event" permit they need, in part, because several neighbors want the city council to deny the application. Opponents, representing 13 households along Indiana Street, has submitted a petition to scuttle the party.

Jim Myrick, one of the event organizers, said he fears the new obstacles may cancel the fundraiser.

"I truthfully think it would be a beneficial thing for the city to have the event," said Myrick, adding that anyone who attends must donate nonperishable food items. "One way or another, we would like to have this block party."

Michael Dzugan, assistant city manager, said the fundraiser can continue if council members grant the special event permit request.

"It's what we do for any festival," Dzugan said. "If you want to close down a street and have a live band, the city council has to approve it."

Whether the city grants the permit remains to be seen; council members haven't reviewed it yet.

Councilman Tom Mouhelis, who represents the area where the fundraiser would be held, said opposition from neighbors could influence the decision.

"All of a sudden, this block party has become a special event," he said. "A lot of the neighbors are concerned about the thing being so huge and massive it's going to be totally disruptive."

Myrick said the intent was never to make the block party a communitywide event. But when it got advertised as one, volunteers and potential sponsors offered to help.

And since Myrick realizes larger crowds mean more donations for the resource center's food pantry, he's hesitant to scale down the event.

"All these people want to show up," he said, "and we think it's great."

Mouhelis said he agrees it's a positive that someone wants to have a fundraiser for the People's Resource Center.

"But the fact remains, there are certain rules that we have," he said. "That's what I've got to look at."