Panel backs allowing beer, wine in Janesville parks
JANESVILLE — The issue of allowing beer and wine in Janesville parks has bubbled up again.
The city's leisure services committee recommended this week that residents be allowed to purchase permits for specific pavilions at three parks.
This is the second year the recreation department has forwarded a request to the city council to allow beer and wine in parks.
The council typically entertains such changes during budget discussions because of their potential effect on revenue.
The recommendation was unanimous among the 11-member leisure services committee, which includes Councilman Jim Farrell.
Shelley Slapak, acting recreation director, said her department is bringing the issue forward again because staff continuously get requests from residents who wish to have beer when they rent pavilions for reunions, wedding receptions and other gatherings.
When residents are told it's not allowed, they often turn to parks outside the city where alcohol is allowed, such as county parks, she said.
The council recently allowed alcohol for people who rent the senior center and during baseball tournaments. It stopped short, though, of allowing beer in parks. Beer already is allowed on golf courses and at Rotary Gardens.
The committee recommends the city allow beer in limited areas, Slapak said.
"We thought we'd start out small and see where it goes—how it works—and then go from there in future years," Slapak said.
The recommended park areas are:
-- The warming house and Lions Pavilion in Traxler Park.
-- The north and south pavilions in Riverside Park.
-- The Hilltop Pavilion in Palmer Park.
The committee recommends pricing the permit at $50. That would be in addition to basic pavilion permits, which range from $45 at the Hilltop Pavilion to $85 for the warming house.
"It's a way for the city to generate additional revenue and also a way for us to answer to the citizen requests," Slapak said.
At Rock County parks, residents do not pay extra for beer permits if they rent pavilions. The charge for most county pavilions is $75. The cost for a beer/wine permit alone—without a picnic shelter—is $25.
The Janesville committee recommends alcohol consumption be limited to the pavilions and a designated radius around them.
"We don't want people walking around the park," Slapak said. "We don't want people thinking that just because they show up in a park, they can consume beer and wine."
Janesville is one of the few cities in the state that doesn't issue alcohol permits for its parks, Slapak said. She hears of few problems in other communities, she said.
The committee also recommends the city not allow glass bottles and that alcohol consumption be stopped at 9 p.m. Two of the three designated parks are open until 11 p.m.
Jul 30, 2012 at 4:48 p.m.
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Just need a styro for your beer :)
I see no issues here!
Jul 29, 2012 at 3:53 p.m.
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Sigma, if the average person had "a" beer, I might be able to agree with you. The problem is the (perceived) majority who don't stop at a reasonable amount, and ruin it for those with common sense.
Jul 29, 2012 at 11:58 a.m.
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Its funny to see how afraid people are of things. When they have fear instilled in them they put all common sense aside. And most the people that are afraid of guns and beer are probably that way only because of what they see on TV. If beer was a common thing like soda pop, it would be viewed and treated the same way. One should be allowed to have a beer at McDonalds or any place.
Jul 27, 2012 at 8:46 p.m.
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So let me get this right, people are upset because I would like to have a beer at in a city park during a city event, but it ok to carry a loaded gun at anytime in a city park. A gun can be loaded but I can't have a beer. Heaven help us. You know they even had wine at the last supper(but don't tell Janesville).
Jul 27, 2012 at 7:17 p.m.
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BADDDDDDDD idea!
Jul 27, 2012 at 4:29 p.m.
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Friends of riverside park stand up and be. Counted
Jul 27, 2012 at 2:51 p.m.
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Dumb idea if u ask me!
Jul 27, 2012 at 12:22 p.m.
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Oh No!!! Now Janesville will end up looking like the ruins of Detroit. Time to go stock up on bottled water.
Jul 27, 2012 at 11:53 a.m.
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could it be that janesville is slowly coming out of the dark ages?.. I'll drink to that..
Jul 27, 2012 at 11:33 a.m.
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I think the additional cost of permits will prevent many from buying them - so the revenue is going to be low. The laws were put in place for a reason... to cut down on DUIs. Almost everyone at the party in the park drives there, and frankly people just don't have the sense of responsibility to designate a driver.
I'm a firm believer that laws should change when people grow up. But that isn't happening.
Jul 27, 2012 at 11:08 a.m.
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Okay, so laws are made to ban smoking in public places, like bars, much to the chagrin of business owners. But yet it is okay to drink in public? I am SO confused!!! LOL
Jul 27, 2012 at 8:27 a.m.
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Will this change affect policing the area and cause more law enforcement problems? Will added enforcement and security cost more in tax dollars? Also, how much "revenue" can be created by such a change? It seems silly to change what has been working for nearly a century already, doesn't it? At what price should we, the citizens, sell our souls? I hope that the city fathers consider all of the consequential costs of such a proposal.
Jul 27, 2012 at 5:22 a.m.
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I'm afraid this city may never grow up. If people are causing a problem do something about it, otherwise, leave them alone.
Jul 27, 2012 at 12:11 a.m.
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Once again...Janesburg is clueless. As much as we have slammed our neighbors to the South over the years...they passed us right on by...and didn't even honk.
Open your eyes folks. There's a great big world out there.
Jul 26, 2012 at 11:17 p.m.
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Hell no........ "We don't want people thinking that just because they show up in a park, they can consume beer and wine."........it would be a travesty if a man was to fish on the side of the bank at Riverside bark with a Six Pak !.....we will not stand for this !
Jul 26, 2012 at 6:19 p.m.
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now janesville can run a sting operation at the parks also. what a money maker , for the city that would be.
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