Despite the cold, plans are fully in swing for July 2-4, when the annual Morton Grove Days festival will take place.
The Morton Grove Days Commission has received two $3,000 donations toward the $18,000 it is raising for the Fourth of July fireworks, and the Morton Grove Park District has clarified it is still donating staff and equipment to the fest, although it is not underwriting the cost of the fireworks this year.
Georgianne Brunner, the commission’s chairperson, accepted a $3,000 check from Moose Lodge members at the Jan. 12 Village Board meeting. The Morton Grove American Legion Post 134 had earlier also given $3,000. The commission is still seeking the remaining two-thirds of the cost of the fireworks, which many residents tout as the best in the area.
Park District Executive Director Tracey Anderson said that while the park district will not be contributing the $18,000 to $20,000 it has given for fireworks in the past few years, it is still contributing staff and equipment.
“We’re still dedicated to providing all the amenities asked for,” she said. “We have a representative who goes to Morton Grove Days Commission meetings, so it’s more a support of staff, equipment and facilities that the park district provides to them.”
That support include bleachers, cables and electrical equipment, sound equipment, trash cans, staff assistance, picnic tables, risers, barricades to close off streets and use of some park district land for parking.
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The park district is expanding its program offerings, put out a bond last year to completely rebuild the former Oriole Pool into the Oriole Park Aquatic Center, and has initiated about 150 new classes or activities in its past four catalogs, she said, though she didn’t tie those directly to the park board’s decision not to continue its support of the fireworks.
“It [the funding] wasn’t taken from Morton Grove Days and put into Oktoberfest,” she said. “We looked at all the programs we’d like to offer as a park district.”
The park district started its first Oktoberfest in the fall to appeal to a young adult demographic, and Anderson said it got positive feedback. New activities such as pickle ball and Polarpalooza have been added, and the district will put on a Cold Brews and Showshoes event on Feb. 21.
At their Feb. 4 meeting, park board members will review the first draft of their budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins May 1.
A lot of factors go into it, Anderson said.
“We look at age parameters (for activities), and try to serve all demographics,” she said. “We look at the staff and supply costs of every program. We make sure we’re competitive and covering our costs.”
As for the Morton Grove Days Commission, it has already been told it will receive some funding from the Morton Grove Foundation, which is planning its annual Taste of Morton Grove fundraiser for Thursday, March 5.
The commission is also asking for sponsorships from businesses, and will offer banners at the festival and entertainment stage for donations ranging from $100 to $5,000. Generally, Morton Grove Days, with its festival, beer garden, parade and fireworks, takes about $80,000 when it takes place over three days, as it does this year, Brunner said.
Pam DeFiglio is a freelance reporter.