Ken Gillett, director of the city’s parks department, hauls away the bingo cage that would have been used for a lottery if a location compromise had not been reached among Class A festivals. (Photo by Matt Schafer)
Atlanta Pride organizers say the event will not only survive as a three-day festival, but also thrive in 2009 as it benefits from a deal struck with the city to return to the Atlanta Civic Center, plus a nearby park, and its traditional last weekend in June.
“If we didn’t have a park next year we would be out of business,” said Atlanta Pride Committee Chair Deirdre Heffernan.
Pride and Atlanta’s other large “Class A” festivals were held in Piedmont Park until 2008, when city officials banned Class A events from all city parks due to concerns over the record drought. Late last month, city officials announced that they would allow one large festival per city park next year.
On Oct. 3, the five largest festivals struck a deal that averted a lottery drawing for Piedmont Park. For Pride agreeing to pull out of the lottery for Piedmont Park, the city waived some $80,000 in rental fees at the Atlanta Civic Center, and allowed Pride to use neighboring Central Park.
“The Civic Center is an enterprise that receives not a single penny from the general fund,” said Dianne Harnell Cohen, commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs. “This is a true hardship for them, but one that as a department we felt we had to find a way to do.”
The deal puts the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park, the Jazz Festival in Grant Park, Screen on the Green in Centennial Olympic Park, and tentatively allows the Peachtree Road Race into part of Piedmont Park and 10th Street. Cohen noted that it only applies to 2009.
BUSINESSES SUFFER
Not everyone is happy with the compromise. Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse owner Philip Rafshoon said he lost 50 percent of his business during Pride weekend this year.
Returning the Dogwood Festival and Road Race to Piedmont may help the gay-owned business near 10th and Piedmont, but not nearly as much as Pride.
“It will hurt all of us, not just me, but Blake’s, Gilbert’s, all of us on this corner. Pride is our bread and butter,” Rafshoon said. “I just think someone should have fought harder for Piedmont Park.”
Heffernan said she understands the criticism, but was unwilling to gamble with Pride’s future.
“I’m sure there will be people that think that, but I’m sure those same people would be very critical of me if I took a gamble and ended up with Mozley [Park],” she said. “So you have to be very careful and weigh the pros and the cons, and I feel very confident that … we made the right decision.”
Had Pride not agreed to the compromise there likely would have been a lottery between Pride, Dogwood and the Road Race for Piedmont Park. The Jazz Festival agreed to take Grant Park and Screen on the Green was willing to return to Centennial. If Pride did not win the lottery for Piedmont Park, the only other parks available would have been Mozley —hilly with limited parking, but close to the Ashby MARTA station — and Central Park.
“I think Pride made a wise decision because if they went into the lottery there is no telling where they could have ended up,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Anne Fauver, whose district includes Piedmont Park.
RETURN TO GREEN SPACE
Pride board member Aryc Mosher attended the meeting and said the festival will be able to use the Central Park to restore the traditional Pride feeling.
“The green space encourages a greater length of time hanging around consuming food and beverages, and that increases our revenues,” Mosher said. “They’re able to stay around longer, see more of the booths, become more interested in the items there and purchasing them.”
Pride paid $80,000 in rental fees when it moved to the Civic Center in 2008, and incurred a $164,736 drop in sponsorship and revenue. As a result of staff departures and layoffs, Pride is now an all-volunteer organization.
Heffernan said the budget for 2009 will be less than the $772,000 budgeted for 2008. Pride is looking at expanding the poker tournament, utilizing Central Park’s softball fields, and adding a T-Dance at the Civic Center. Pride also hosts a fundraising bike ride on Nov. 1 that begins and ends at Piedmont Park.
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TR
0
Unlike Ray, I did not think Pride 2008 was a big disappointment. Perhaps some people should look at Pride's website and understand WHAT their purpose is....I can tell you it ISN'T to throw a huge circuit party!
The purpose of APC, as I understand it, is to "promote unity, visibility, and self-esteem" in our community. It shouldn't matter if the festival is at the Civic Center, a park, or in a field somewhere. If the venue allows our community to host an event that promotes our culture and expands our education, then we should all be happy. I personally look forward to Pride 2009!
Posted 10/15/08 - 11:10 PM
ray Austell
, Ga
0
Very disappointing to hear the news. I along with the majority of my friends will not be attending Gay Pride this year. Last year was a big big diappointment. Will make plans to go out of state for gay pride this year. What is happening to ATL Gay Pride?
