South Pointe Park is a vibrant and popular public amenity for all of our City’s residents and visitors. On Sunday evenings, an informal drum circle has been held recently that appears to be popular and well-regarded by park patrons. However, some residents of the South of Fifth neighborhood have expressed concern about the level of noise generated by the weekly drum circle. So, we appear to have an informal activity worth supporting and preserving, but it also appears to be in a location possibly incompatible for it.

I would like to discuss ideas to preserve this very popular informal drum circle, while also protecting the quality of life of the South of Fifth residents.

To that end, I would like to start a discussion regarding one idea to meet both of these goals by establishing an informal City six-month pilot program whereby the City would create an informal City activity every Sunday on a designated section of the beach adjacent to Lummus Park that is not in proximity to any residential area, so as to mitigate any noise impacts from the activity.

In order to incentivize the drummers to willingly move from their current location to the new beach location, I would suggest, as discussion points, the following enhancements:

(1)   The City could advertise the drum circle at the new beach location in order to invite the drummers and the public to the new location, and establish a new and appropriate location for this very popular activity for our residents and visitors.

(2)   The City could allow the drummers and their audience to use a section of the beach for additional hours, beyond the normal 10 PM closing time (perhaps Midnight) as authorized by City Code Sec. 82-2(c), which allows the City Manager to extend beach hours.

(3)   The City could fund and build a bonfire on the beach each week to provide some lighting and ambiance to this popular activity, as permitted by City Code Sec. 50-10(g)(bonfire permit).

(4)   Possible City funding to make the activity more successful.

These are ideas that I estimate may help to solve the dilemma caused by the current circumstance. I am open to any other creative thinking  from my colleagues and the Administration that might also help make this a successful endeavor.