Imagine being invited to a legal block party supported by landlords, administrators and even the police. Such a dream could become a reality if the party throwers follow the proper guidelines.
If students want to throw a block party, they can follow some easy-to-do steps.
Organizers should first get together with some friends and neighbors and decide when and where to hold their block party. Picking a small street, presumably one they live on or adjacent to, will increase their odds of getting permission to close it during the party.
After establishing a core group of party organizers, it’s time to go door to door. Party planners should talk to all of their neighbors and find out if they’re interested in having a block party.
In order to throw a legal block party, one must first obtain a permit. To receive a permit, organizers must submit an application to the Parks and Recreation Permit Office. A block party application can be requested by calling 645-3337.
City code states 80 percent of the property owners who live on the street must sign the submitted application. According to the Department of Recreations and Parks Web site, a Franklin County Geographic Information Systems map, which shows the street address’ and property owners names, must also be submitted. This map can be obtained at the Franklin County Municipal Building, 373 S. High St.
Though it might seem no landlord would approve of a giant party, many are resigned to the notion that parties are going to occur and would therefore prefer organized, planned and approved events.
“We used to have block parties, and they were good,” said Steve Nicool, property manager for Inn-Town Homes and Apartments. “Norwichfest used to be a legal block party, but now people are afraid to organize these things officially. They go on anyway, just un-organized and without any security.
Nicool organized parties are better than unorganized ones.
“My personal opinion is that students are going to have parties no matter what we do,” he said. “We’re not going to stop them, so we might as well organize them in a manner which will alleviate some of the problems we’ve been having with these un-structured, un-organized fests.”
After receiving a minimum of 80 percent of homeowner signatures, party planners are almost done. Before submitting the application they must first talk with the Columbus Division of Police Special Events Unit at 645-4375, said Roger Foor, an officer at the Special Events Unit.
The department will determine which streets can be closed, as well as how many officers will be needed to staff the event, he said. For example, if a road is to be closed, an officer must be present at both ends to re-direct traffic.
Just because police have been called in to deal with riots on campus before doesn’t automatically mean the Special Events Unit will deny a permit.
“We don’t approve or disapprove block party permits. We simply determine the number of officers that will be necessary for such an event,” Foor said. “We can’t close major thoroughfares, but we look at what’s going on and try to determine a way to redirect traffic in order to enable the block party to go on without causing undue traffic disruption.”
However, there is one catch.
The organizers of a block party are responsible for paying for the extra officers, Foor said. The cost of these officers can vary widely, but the expenses will be much lower for a well-planned event.
Dividing this cost among those attending the party should render the actual cost per person somewhat low, he said.
After receiving the necessary homeowner signatures and working out security with the police, the application is ready to be submitted.
The department application also asks those applying to submit a $70 processing fee if party plans include closing a major streets or if the block party will include more than 16 properties.
The application and fee should be returned in person to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Permit Office within 30 days of the block party but must be in no less than seven days prior to the event.
