
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990                   TAG: 9005150356
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: BEDFORD
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Medium

LABORFEST PARK PLAN APPROVED COUNCIL PREPARES FOR ANNUAL EVENT

The Virginia Beach City Council approved a critical part of Laborfest plans Monday, opening a city park to the exclusive use of visitors.

By a 9-2 vote after a two-hour public hearing, the council authorized the use of Redwing Park for concerts for the tens of thousands of visitors expected over the Labor Day weekend.

Last year, more than 100,000 people jammed the resort city for a holiday weekend that ended in violent confrontations between police and young people. More than $1.4 million in damage was done in the subsequent looting.

The majority of the visitors were young blacks drawn to the city by a traditional end-of-summer party. The city has never had a role in the gatherings.

This year, the city has taken a hands-on approach, appointing a citizens' committee to help plan the event.

Crucial to the Labor Day Community Coordinating Committee plan was the use of Redwing Park, according to Harrison Wilson, the committee's co-chairman and president of Norfolk State University.

However, residents of the area have opposed the use of the park. The city has an ordinance prohibiting the use of city parks by large groups.

At the public hearing, Redwing residents repeated their misgivings.

"We are concerned and do care about what happens," said Chuck Tracy, president of the Redwing Civic League. "But we are sick of this being jammed down our throats. And that does not make us racist."

Residents said they were concerned about traffic and crowd control.

But the plan received the support of various segments of the business community and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"I am living in a very safe place. My church is in a very safe place," said the Rev. John Jordan. "That that many people that different from me is coming here makes me afraid.

"I am asking you to look inside yourself. If you vote against this, you support my fear, you support my racism. I need your leadership to make me better than what I am," he said.

Council members Reba McClanan and John Moss voted against the resolution.

The council also agreed to close some streets during the holiday weekend to help with traffic control.

by CNB