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Approving a Temporary Alcohol Ban at Elver Park on July 5, 2025 and July 6, 2025. (District 20)
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Madison Parks and the Madison Police Department are collaborating on an action plan to prevent unsafe and unauthorized activities at Elver Park during the July 4th holiday weekend.
In recent years, Elver Park has seen a concerning increase in unsafe and unauthorized activities, particularly during the evenings of the July 4th holiday. The most concerning issues have arisen from large gatherings where individuals have used illegal, often commercial-grade fireworks, resulting in multiple fires, property damage, and significant risks to public safety and the natural environment. These activities have placed considerable strain on the Madison Fire Department, Madison Police Department, and Madison Park Rangers, eroding the sense of peace and safety the park intends to provide for families and community members.
To address these ongoing problems, Madison Parks and the Madison Police have been working together to identify patterns and contributing factors to these unsafe gatherings. A growing concern has been the use of alcohol in conjunction with illegal fireworks. While alcohol itself is not inherently problematic when consumed responsibly, it has often drawn larger, loosely organized groups whose activities escalate beyond simple, responsible recreation.
Residents have expressed several concerns, including:
• The noise and disruption caused by large, unauthorized fireworks shows in Elver Park.
• Safety risks to children, pedestrians, and pets in the park.
• Evidence of alcohol being consumed along with fireworks and other unsafe activities.
• Excessive refuse left in the park from fireworks debris, alcohol containers, and waste from large gatherings.
• Large groups remaining in the park after 10 PM.
As a preventative and protective measure, we seek to give the Parks Superintendent the authority to ban alcohol at Elver Park on July 5, 2025, and July 6, 2025. The goals of this ban are to:
• Preserve the park as a safe, family-friendly environment.
• Deter the return of high-risk activities that have contributed to past incidents.
• Support enforcement efforts with clear rules that can be consistently applied.
• Encourage responsible use of public spaces that benefit the entire community.
This temporary ban of alcohol is not intended to target any specific group of people but to proactively address a documented pattern that has had serious public safety consequences.