Parks staff confirm plan A for large July event; plan B ready if fields hold water after storms

Parks and Recreation Director Tracy Ivey briefed council on logistics for the city’s largest annual event and outlined a plan B in case recent rains leave the football field and Ingles lot too soggy for heavy equipment.

Ivey said the event will use most of the park and that vendor booths (35 vendors), food trucks, a dunk tank, helicopter rides and fireworks are part of the planned layout. Plan A uses the football field perimeter and the Ingles lot for parking, with VIP and handicap parking in designated areas. If heavy rain forces a change, plan B would close the inner Ingles lot, move heavy vendors and food trucks to asphalt areas near the civic center entrance, dolly inflatables onto the field to avoid driving trailers across turf, and split inflatables to minimize wear ahead of the football season.

Ivey described the monitoring process: staff have been checking field conditions and will make the call early the day before the event if plan B is necessary. She also noted how many city employees, grounds crews and public safety staff contribute to setup, vendor coordination and a fast, well‑practiced exit plan. The council thanked staff and vendors for the extensive preparation.

No council action was required; staff will finalize a decision on whether to switch to plan B based on field conditions the day before the event and proceed with the chosen layout and traffic/exit plan.