Decorah Park-Rec Board doesn't endorse use of Wayside Park for Pulpit Rock's 5th Anniversary in August

Pulpit Rock Brewing Company in Decorah will celebrate its 5th anniversary later this summer.  Thursday night Pulpit Rock owner Pete Espinosa met with members of the Decorah Parks & Recreation Board to ask that the brewery be allowed to use Wayside Park on August 22nd to help the brewery to more safely hold its event.

Espinosa said the use of the park would make customers spread out and allow the event to be held safely.  He said the event would include events held by ArtHaus, games, food and a fireworks display at night.  A portion of the park would be fenced off to allow people to drink a beer from Pulpit Rock.

Park Board members asked questions of Espinosa.  When they discovered he was thinking of an event which would draw from 200 to 500 people, they told him this was the wrong year to be considering such an event.  "I find it very hard to condone a gathering of 200 or 500 people," said board member Shirley Vermace, who added, "it makes me nervous."  Board member Kathy Bakken also said this was not the right year to hold such an event.

All five Park Board members opposed the event, so no one would make a motion to approve Pulpit Rock's request.  The Park Board's position will be relayed to the Decorah City Council, which on Monday night will be asked to approve an event request for the anniversary event, including the blocking off of one block of Fifth Avenue on that date.