PIP 2009 - $17,333

PIP 2009 - $17,333

In 2009 Picnic in the Park was combined with WPDH's Roofathon. The event drew crowds from throughout Dutchess County. The traditional Picnic-in-the-Park was transformed to three day Party-in-the-Park. In fact the crowds for were so large that the event went $7,333 over budget. Village taxpayers paid a total of $17,333. WPDH, part of the multi-million dollar Cumulis Broadcasting Network paid the Village a total of $450 and some free tee shirts for the three day use of the park.

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$17,333 of Your Tax Dollars Up In Smoke

_{Marijuana Float from 2009 Roofathon/Party-in-the-Park}

Residents Bring Concerns to Village Board

At the April 14, 2010 Village Board meeting a group of concerned residents presented the Board with a petition signed by Village residents, voters and taxpayers. The petition asked the Board to return the event to a village community day. The Village Board listened to concerns that community day has become a County wide event paid for by Village taxpayers.

Residents complained that last years was inappropriate for the community. The kick off for WPDH event was Biker Night. At last years event hundreds of bikers gathered in Mesier Park wearing their gang colors. Photo's of past Biker Nights can be seen on WPDH's Site. A float condoning recreational drug use was featured in the Roofathon, Picnic in the Park Parade.The Board also heard complaints about traffic congestion and noise.

The Mayor did not intervene as two members of his Recreation Committee, both of whom are not village residents, heckled the concerned residents with shouts of "too bad, we're going to win" and "If you don't like it why don't you move". The Chairperson of the Recreation Committee presented a petition to the Board in support of having Roofathon at Mesier Park. The petition had over 100 signatures most of which belonged to non-village taxpayers or residents. Many of the signatures belonged to WPDH employees. Others were from adjoining counties. There was even one signature from New Jersey.

Board Approves Return of Party in the Park

On April 29, 2010 the Village Board sided with the non-residents and WPDH when they approved using taxpayer dollars to host the event. The Board also approved hosting Biker Night again this year. The Board increased the funding for Picnic in the Park. Meanwhile the Board voted to decreased funding for the popular summer concerts and the Christmas Tree Lighting. The annual Easter Egg Hunt, which is attended by children from the Village, has no funding and has been dropped from the Recreation Calendar of events.