Plans for the 2010 Mifflin Street Block Party are beginning to take shape and include more live music, beer and bathrooms.
After the party's success in 2009, sponsor DCNY Pro is back to manage this year's event. Co-owners Dave Coleman and Ny Bass addressed the Madison Street Use Staff Commission at their meeting Wednesday morning where they outlined new ideas for the upcoming event.
""Last year's party was very successful,"" said Coleman. ""This year we're going to make some changes that we think will improve the block party even more.""
The May 1 event will feature more entertainment with a second live music stage on Bedford Street in addition to the one on Bassett Street.
""The stage will help give idle people something to do and a place to be,"" said Coleman.
Partygoers of legal drinking age will also be able to enjoy a new, open-air beer garden complete with a live DJ stage. The garden will be set up on Mifflin Street at the old Planned Parenthood clinic and will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
""We think that will help encourage responsible drinking, and it will give people who aren't from the area a place to party,"" said Coleman.
Other changes include blocking off the 10-100 block of North Bedford Street and the addition of more outdoor restrooms to combat outdoor urination and party crashing.
Commission members were receptive to the proposal, but raised concerns about the beer tent hours of operation, food vendors setting up on private property, and the dangers of blocking fire routes.
""Any event that has stages, it's consistently an issue,"" Bill Sullivan of the Madison Fire Department said regarding fire routes being blocked. ""We're past the point of education. We'll be writing citations.""
Coleman and Bass are expected to meet with Madison's police and fire departments at a later date to further discuss plans for the block party. They will submit a formal application to the Parks Office this Friday.
""We really just want to see the event be more successful, more fun and more safe,"" said Coleman. ""We want it to be something the city can be proud of.""
