Plainfield Fest Nets $50,000; May Have 'Outgrown' Lockport Street Location

Sunny, dry weather coupled with increased advertising made an enormous success this year and netted $50,000 for the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation, organizers said.

In fact, crowds were so great – estimated at about 10,000 for the weekend – this may be the last year the annual festival is held on downtown Lockport Street, foundation President Rob Epley said.

Other locations with more space, such as the 44-acre Riverfront Park along the DuPage River and behind Plainfield Village Hall – or maybe both – would offer more space so the festival could spread out and expand, Epley said.

“Next year it will probably be held somewhere else,” said Paul Fay, festival committee chairman and a Plainfield Village Board member.  “The festival’s about 30 years old. It started when Plainfield had a population of 5,000 people.”

Epley echoed that sentiment. “I think it’s outgrown Lockport Street,” he said.

Up until this year, – a nonprofit group charged with bolstering the patronage of downtown businesses and restaurants – had been the festival organizer. This year, duties were shared by the two groups and next year, the foundation will orchestrate it on its own.

In exchange for overseeing the three-day event, any profit raised goes to the redevelopment of Riverfront Park/Electric Park. Long-term plans include bridges, walking trails and other public amenities, the first phase of which will cost about $2 million.

Moving the festival would also address concerns raised last month by village Trustee Jim Racich, who questioned the wisdom of continuing to close Lockport Street for events such as Plainfield Fest or the St. Patrick’s and Homecoming parades. Recently, the street was closed to allow a window company to film a short movie.

“I think the people of Plainfield have suffered enough” with the Route 59 widening work and the periodic closing of Lockport Street, Racich said. “Enough is enough. When are we going to stop closing Lockport Street. … When are we going to allow Plainfield to be Plainfield.”

The village spent $7 million on “streetscaping” to enhance the appearance of Lockport Street and lure more people downtown, but the constant interruptions in traffic make it difficult for people to enjoy the area, Racich said.

Beyond that, closing the street forces traffic through residential areas as drivers look for shortcuts around closed streets, he said. During Plainfield Fest, it brings a lot of people into neighborhoods that are otherwise quiet.

Fay, who lives in the residential area off of downtown, acknowledged that the additional people and traffic can become a “headache.”

The village board is going to discuss the issue at an upcoming committee of the whole meeting.

Not everyone finds the situation problematic, however. Mike Boyd, who lives with his family on Fox River Street, said he likes the excitement that comes with special events being held downtown and doesn’t mind putting up with crowds and traffic.

It’s something he knew would occasionally happen when he bought his house, and the trade-off is being able to walk to events that are just a couple of blocks away, he said.

“I think it’s a plus, the hustle and bustle that comes with (downtown events),” Boyd said. “I think closing Lockport Street, that’s a key thing. … It shows off downtown.”