Dogwood, Pride festivals both out on a limb -- again

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Dogwood, Pride festivals both out on a limb

By CHANDLER BROWN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/08/08

The city of Atlanta's decision to boot major festivals from Piedmont Park because of Georgia's drought has left one event nearly penniless and another searching for its third home in less than a year.

On Thursday, organizers of the 73-year-old Atlanta Dogwood Festival announced they would not be able to use Lenox Square next spring, leaving them on the hunt for yet another site.

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At the same time, the Atlanta Pride Committee confirmed its executive director and festival organizer had resigned after this year's festival took such a hit that the organization was nearly out of money.

Both organizations say their problems could be solved if they could work out an agreement to go back to Piedmont next year.

Diane Harnell Cohen, commissioner of the city's parks, recreation and cultural affairs department, will make a recommendation to the City Council in October.

Until then, she's not making any promises.

"There is nothing that says to me that the drought is leaving or that we are going to have enough water from irrigation that I couldn't say anything other than we have to look at his carefully," she said Thursday. "It would be irresponsible for me to say anything more than that."

In January, the city announced all Class A events -- those that attract more than 50,000 people -- were being moved out of Piedmont because of the stress they caused on the park's rain-starved lawn.

Dogwood organizers moved their event to the Lenox Square parking lot April 4-6, with disastrous results. Attendance was way down, patrons complained about the lack of trees -- there was an artificial dogwood in a VIP tent -- and the festival fell far short of revenue goals.

Executive Director Brian Hill said Lenox officials told him they had hoped the festival would provide them a bump in business, but that didn't happen. Fewer than 50,000 people attended, down from estimates of 150,000 to 200,000 in years past, partly because it rained most of the weekend, Hill said.

A letter from Lenox to Hill said it was a scheduling issue.

"Our schedule of activities simply does not allow us to participate next year," according to the July 25 letter from Dewayne Herbert, a Lenox marketing executive.

In the meantime, Dogwood officials are redoubling their efforts to get back to Piedmont next year. They are urging festival fans to sign an online petition (www.dogwood.org) and contact Atlanta City Council members.

"The people in Midtown, across the board, are saying it's the people's park and want large community events there," Hill said.

About 2,000 people had signed the petition by Thursday afternoon, Hill said.

Pride festival also hurt by move

Atlanta Pride, one of the country's largest gay-themed events, also took a big hit by moving out of the park. The organization had to pay an estimated $60,000 to $80,000 to rent the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, where the event was held over the Fourth of July weekend. In years past, Pride paid roughly $10,000 to $12,000 for permitting, clean-up and security at Piedmont Park.

Add to that, attendance that was down significantly this year, and the organization took a financial hit "in the six figures," Pride board chairwoman Deirdre Heffernan said. Like Hill, she would not provide specific dollar or attendance figures.

The weekend left the Atlanta Pride Committee with just enough money to operate with one staffer, down from four, Heffernan said.

Executive Director Donna Narducci resigned this week. Festival Director Jennifer Sheffield resigned last week, Heffernan said.

"We just looked at the books and decided it was time to make a change," Heffernan said, noting that both resignations were amicable. Pride's part-time book keeper Paul Gibson also resigned, leaving one staffer at the organization's office on Henderson Mill Road.

Heffernan insisted Atlanta Pride – in some form – will be back next year.

"What that will look like, how long it will last, where it will be remains to be seen," she said, noting that the organization has launched a fund-raising drive on its Web site (www.atlantapride.org).

Heffernan denied rumors in the gay community that Atlanta Pride was disbanding.

"We've been around for 38 years," she said. "We're not going to let a drought or a flood or any financial situation stop us."

—Staff writer Ken Sugiura contributed to this report.

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Comments

By Jerry Kennedy

Aug 18, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

Well The Novare Company and all these people who moved into midtown must be pleased with themselves: They saw the area they wanted & set forth to sanitize the area to their liking and thanks to our oh-so-tolerant city government (WHATEVER!) They got their way: All the evil gay clubs and gay festivals and anything that threatened their WASP ideal has been purged! I am so thouroughly DISGUSTED with this city-the so-called cradle for civil rights!

By THE CATHOLIC HAMMER

Aug 9, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this

In reality, Piedmont Park is entirely too small to handle any major festival in a metropolitan area of 5 million people.

Blame who you will, but the fact is: Atlanta didn't buy enough land to build a park to support 5 million people.

The question is: why SHOULD the City of Atlanta support 5 million people? The Piedmont Conservancy is absolutely correct in limiting the use(s) of Piedmont Park.

By Midtowner

Aug 9, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

I think Pride ought to look at the new linear park on Memorial - it's a block wide and a couple of blocks long; it has great views, an interesting feel, and could be way cool... Not EVERYTHING in Atlanta JUST HAS to be at Piedmont Park~

It might be too small/poorly laid out for the Dogwood Festival; but might do very well for the Jazz Festival...

(Oh, Atl Peach Girl - join a Master Gardeners program and actually LEARN something about drought-tolerant plants before making such inane comments)

By Grace

Aug 9, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

Try counseling, Keith. How is that Aryan Nation, The KKK, Al Qaeda, and the Communist party come to your mind when discussing civil rights for gay people? The way you're reacting is exactly how some whites when civil rights for blacks was an issue. I would imagine that probably like you and your ilk, they even stooped so low as to use the Bible to try and "prove" that blacks were inherently inferior.

Come on and make a 40-year leap with the rest of us to 2008. Let in a little light, love, and hey - while you're at it - original thought. This is a tired argument.

By ladyvolsfan

Aug 9, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

Bronco,

It never fails me to see the depth of ignorance I've seen since moving to Georgia, but you got me with this stupid comment. I bet you make your mamma proud.

By Keith Helms is a Retard

Aug 9, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

Apparently Piedont Park Conservancy and parks and recreations can dictate who will and will not be permitted in Piedmont Paek.

And stop hiding out in a closet, all hateful and jealous of the men and women in this community who live their lives to the fullest - gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, whatever - and enjoy the diversity our community provides.

peace.

By Keith Helms is a Retard

Aug 9, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

Apparently Piedont Park Conservancy and parks and recreations can dictate who will and will not be permitted in Piedmont Paek.

And stop hiding out in a closet, all hatefuk abd jealous of the men and women in this community who live their lives to the fullest - gay, straight, lesiban, bisexual, transgendered, whatever - and enjoy the diversity our community provides.

peace.

By Keith Helms

Aug 9, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

If pride week, festival, orgy, or whatever they call it is allowed on public property, then they heave to allow the same for the Aryan Nation, The KKK, Al Qaeda, and the Communist party since they are all equal.

By Grace

Aug 9, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

What "truth" are you talking about? Sounds like ignorance and bigotry to me. There will never be acceptance by everyone for everyone. I could care less whether I'm accepted by someone who is prejudiced, or who can easily justify their personal brand of bigotry.

Here are the facts. Pride has less to do with gay people being accepted than demanding full civil rights. Until we have the same rights in this country as does every other individual, there will be events such as this. I would venture we've gotten a little ahead of ourselves and have gotten too complacent and comfortable. We're doing more celebrating than protesting, boycotting, and taking action to ensure equal protection under the law, before the marches and consumerism.

Gay people can legally be denied housing, employment, military service, and myriads of spousal rights. This isn't true of any other human being in this country. Once we're federally protected, then we have something to celebrate.

You may think you don't know someone gay, or that all gay people are the media-generated, stereotypical ones highlighted on a 30-second clip for sensationalism, but we're everywhere - no better or worse than you. We're your family members, work associates, a part of your church family, your neighbor.

We're here and we won't be denied freedom and protection.

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

Aug 9, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

First of all.... let's DROUGHT PROOF the parks..... grass is very overrated....
our parks are supposed to be for festivals, etc. Perhaps the Parks & Rec Comm. Cohen needs to think 'outside the box'.

We need a new vision for our parks that include drought resistance plants, etc.

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