CHASTAIN PARK, Ga. — Families in Chastain Park say they are worried an added concert at Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park on Halloween night could create a dangerous mix of concert traffic and children trick-or-treating after dark.
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Joe York, president of the Chastain Park Civic Association, told Channel 2’s Susan Hendricks that he met with Live Nation last Thursday and learned about the added Steve Lacy show scheduled for Halloween.
“We understand you are running a business we want you guys to be successful we love having you in our neighborhood 364 days out of the year, but Halloween the one day for our kids and our residents to come out be in the street, trick-or-treat and enjoy all the festivities of Halloween without having to worry about being hit by a car,” York said.
York said the civic association also learned that under Live Nation’s operating agreement with the city, Halloween is the final day concerts can be held at the venue.
The concert season runs from April 1 through the end of October, with a maximum of 41 shows each season. York said the Halloween concert would be the 40th show.
“This is very different we have some streets that turn more into a carnival than Halloween,” York said.
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Homes throughout Chastain Park are already decorated for Halloween, and families traditionally fill the neighborhood streets for trick-or-treating.
Concerned parent Lauren Crim said families are now figuring out whether they need to change their plans.
“I think the news is so new we’re all still adopting to our plans as families,” Crim said.
Parents told Hendricks their biggest concern is the additional traffic arriving after dark while children in masks and costumes are walking through the neighborhood.
“It’s the amount of people unfamiliar with our streets coming here after dark,” York said.
“On a dark street with kids out to your point with masks and costumes it’s a recipe for disaster,” he added.
York has also been speaking with city leaders about the concerns. He said they told him they plan to take steps to make the event safe for everyone.
The civic association is asking for measures that include lighted signage in high-pedestrian areas, limits on some cut-through traffic, additional staffing and security, and text messages to concertgoers warning them to expect extra pedestrians in the neighborhood.
Crim said those added precautions could make a difference for families.
“I think the biggest thing here is awareness and maybe extra security,” Crim said.
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