PARK IMPACT + LOGISTICS
As we plan our 2026 festival, Riot Fest will continue using the proven strategies that helped minimize impact and improve event operations in 2025. By maintaining effective sound control, security measures, and real-time monitoring, we remain committed to creating a safe and well-managed festival experience for both attendees and the community.
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Douglass Park is a vital community space, and we remain committed
to ensuring accessibility throughout event preparations.
Our structured festival build schedule is designed to minimize disruptions, and we have identified key areas that will remain open to the public. This approach allows residents to continue enjoying the park while we work to create a safe, well-organized, and successful event.
WILL REMAIN OPEN & NEVER CLOSE
- Douglass Park – Roosevelt Rd. to Ogden Ave.
- Tennis court
- Basket Ball Court
- Football field
- Track and field
- Kids playground | 19th and Albany
- Kids playground | 18th and California
2025 TIMELINE
- September 10: Load-in begins. Crews start installing perimeter fencing and flooring
- September 10 – 19: Crews begin assembling stages and other production
- September 17: The park closes to the public – (Highlighted in yellow)
- September 19 – 21: Festival show days
- September 22 – 26: Production loadout, cleaning and restoration
- September 26: Park fully open to the public
Riot Fest remains committed to efficient traffic management, emergency access, and community impact, building on the successful strategies from 2024 and implementing key improvements for 2025:
Emergency Access — Our collaborative route planning ensured unobstructed emergency vehicle access and will continue in 2025 to maintain prompt response times.
Checkpoints & Barricades — Strategic checkpoint placement and trained personnel successfully managed traffic flow and security in 2024, and this approach will be carried forward.
Communication & Signage — Effective signage and distributed traffic plans helped direct attendees. For 2025, we will refine placement and clarity based on feedback.
Residential Parking — The ‘Resident Parking Only’ program successfully reduced congestion and unauthorized parking. In 2025, we will deploy additional ‘No Parking’ signs where requested by residents.
Rideshare & Public Transportation — Coordination with OEMC and rideshare companies improved designated zones and reinforced no-drop areas near Mount Sinai. We will continue strengthening rideshare communication and enforcement in 2025.
Curb Lane & Street Closures — In 2024, we corrected a curb lane no parking mix-up to ensure that curb lane closures are only along the park perimeter and not across the street where residents need parking. This approach will continue in 2025 to better accommodate the community.
Off-Site Parking — The UIC parking strategy successfully dispersed traffic, and we are exploring additional parking locations for 2025 to further enhance accessibility.
Staff & Vendor Parking — Dedicated parking on North Farrar Drive reduced congestion and prevented staff from parking in residential areas. This successful system will remain in place for 2025.
At Riot Fest, we take noise regulations seriously and are committed to ensuring a respectful and enjoyable experience for both attendees and our neighbors. Our team proactively monitors and adjusts sound levels to ensure compliance and respect for our neighbors. Riot Fest is committed to creating a great festival experience while being responsible community partners.
WE FOLLOW ALL CITY OF CHICAGO NOISE REGULATIONS
Real-Time Noise Monitoring — Our engineers continuously measure sound levels to ensure compliance.
Regulatory Compliance — City ordinances prohibit disruptive noise in noise-sensitive areas, and we actively keep our levels within acceptable limits.
KEY MONITORING STRATEGIES THAT WORKED IN 2025
- Directional Speakers positioned away from nearby hospitals and residences
- Controlled DB Levels: Audio engineer regulates sound levels to Max 95db
- Hard Limit Levels: ‘Hard limit’ levels to prevent unexpected volume surges
- Advanced P. A. System: Beam steering technology for enhanced sound directionality
- Active Monitoring: Real-time noise monitoring for prompt adjustments
- Additional security at key locations and checkpoints
- Signage for employee parking
- Improved communications for faster and uninterrupted access for emergency vehicles
MEASURED NOISE LEVELS NEAR HOSPITALS
- Saint Anthony Hospital: 61 dB (Similar to normal conversation)
- Mount Sinai Hospital: 70 dB (Equivalent to city traffic or a vacuum cleaner)
COMPARISON TO EVERYDAY NOISE LEVELS
For reference, common city noise levels include:
- Passing Car (25 ft away): 77 dB
- Lawnmower: 85 dB
- Train Passing (50 ft away): 100 dB
- Emergency Siren: 110 dB
Check back soon for updated street closure information.
COMMITMENT TO WHAT WORKS
Riot Fest will continue using the proven strategies that helped minimize impact and improve event operations in 2024. By maintaining effective sound control, security measures, and real-time monitoring, we remain committed to creating a safe and well-managed festival experience for both attendees and the community.
KEY STRATEGIES THAT WORKED IN 2024
- Directional Speakers positioned away from nearby hospitals and residences
- Controlled DB Levels: Audio engineer regulates sound levels to Max 95db
- Hard Limit Levels: ‘Hard limit’ levels to prevent unexpected volume surges
- Advanced P. A. System: Beam steering technology for enhanced sound
directionality - Active Monitoring: Real-time noise monitoring for prompt adjustments
- Additional security at key locations and checkpoints
- Signage for employee parking
- Improved communications for faster and uninterrupted access for
emergency vehicles
SAINT ANTHONY’S FEEDBACK
- Zero noise complaints from hospital guest, staff, or patients
- No cell phone reception issues
- Dedicated employee parking with signage proved effective
- Additional check points worked well for traffic flow
- Emergency vehicles had no issues with access
- Vehicle screening at 19th & Marshall much faster with no issues
MOUNT SINAI FEEDBACK
- Zero noise complaints from hospital guest, staff, or patients
- No cell phone reception issues
- Additional check points worked well for traffic flow
- Extra security at key locations worked well
- Emergency vehicles had no issues with access