Elk Grove Village Summer Concert Series resumes Tuesday with enhanced safety measures
On July 8, Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson announced that the Village's annual summer concert series will kick off this Tuesday with some added safety measures.
The Village's Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series was originally scheduled to kick off with a concert featuring KC and The Sunshine Band on July 4, but was canceled due to the tragic shooting in Highland Park.
This Tuesday's concert featuring The Little River Band will proceed as scheduled with some added safety measures being implemented by the Elk Grove Village Police Department out of an abundance of caution.
"We hold these events so friends, families and neighbors can come together to laugh and enjoy one another's company. They're a celebration of everything we cherish about community, friendship and family, so, of course we are going to continue holding these events. They're important to the fabric of our community," said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson. "That said, the tragedy that took place in Highland Park has, understandably, heightened concerns among residents and concertgoers about event safety. Our Police Department is prepared and has been addressing this matter on an ongoing basis for the last several years. Our officers will do everything they can to ensure all our events are as safe as they possibly can be."
Concertgoers should expect to see an increased visibility of uniformed officers and the deployment of additional security cameras around the event perimeter. Additionally, officers will be working to secure the event area earlier than previous events.
Looking ahead to future events in town this summer, the Village strongly advises residents to report any kind of suspicious activity to law enforcement, no matter how minor it may seem. Law enforcement officials would rather be informed about something that appears out of the ordinary than not be aware of it at all.
"The Elk Grove Village Police Department shares the concerns of community members about safety at all the events we support including parades, concerts and other large public gatherings," said Elk Grove Village Chief of Police Charles Walsh. "We have invested in training, equipment and technology to ensure that we are as prepared as we can be to deter or respond to any event that places our community in harm's way. Our security plans are constantly updated to include emerging threats and concerns. Some of the enhanced security efforts are visible to the public during an event but most are covert to provide maximum safety for guests."
Tuesday's concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. on the Village Green located at 901 Wellington Avenue.
Additional information about the Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series can be found at: www.elkgrove.org/concerts.