Final Friday Experience

[XLFD]

I knew something was going on last night when I saw that the 100 block of East Melendy was closed, with what looked to be some sort of on-street shindig going down to the south of Ludington Bay Brewery.  Living just a block south of this street closure had me curious as to what was happening, as I keep reasonably apprised of events that would shut down streets in Ludington and had heard nothing.  The black cat was curious too.

Approaching from the other side on James Street, I saw there was an outdoor gathering appreciating a musical artist, the street was fully closed.  People were consuming adult beverages and enjoying themselves. 

Going further downtown, I saw that Foster Street was also closed between James and Rath Streets.  It looked as if something had been going on here as a group of people dispersed shortly before I took the picture below:

The next street north (Filer) also was blocked off, this time between James and Harrison.  Nothing was taking place at this time.

Loomis Street was found to be blocked on that same side.  Humani-Tea and some other vendor were out trying to do some business on this mild night.

It was good seeing downtown Ludington businesses attracting business once again after suffering through shutdowns and privations of one sort or another over the last fifteen months, but it seemed odd that there were so many street closures without anything coming up through the city council to directly approve of them. 

When the Ludington Outdoor Social District (LOSD) was passed on March 8th, it made clear that streets were not part of the places where people could gather outdoors and drink alcoholic beverages.  Yet it also provided a map of the district with green rectangles that correspond to the streets that were closed this Friday night.

It additionally provided a disclaimer saying:  "City streets shall not be obstructed for LOSD purposes unless and until a special permit and/or approval is granted from all relevant state and local agencies."  Such street closures was not explicitly approved from the city council, multiple special events in the past have asked the council directly for streets to be closed such as a "back to school bash" in 2015, the traveling Vietnam wall back in 2014, etc.

Looking further we find that this was the initial running of Ludington's Final Friday Experience, where both local and statewide marketing efforts indicate that they are 'Friday Night Lives' geared up for the Covid-19 era, with safe activities and street closures.  Like most DDA initiatives, this idea is borrowed, this time from cities throughout Kansas who have had "Final Friday Experiences" for years.  Nevertheless, it hasn't came up explicitly at council meetings for approval of the event or for street closures.  

Looking further, however, one finds at the May 10th LCC meeting, that they did pass a variety of DDA events from the summer, the meeting minutes show that councilors passed them all with one vote without comment about any of the new protocols, this included the FFE which is slated to run on the final Friday of each month through November:

Finally, we see that these street closures were preordained, much like the old FNLs required parts of Ludington Avenue and James Street to close.  It would have been nice for the locals to actually be alerted to that fact in advance without having to dig deep in city council packets.  From the roster of activities and the sights of the first Final Friday Experience, it looks as if the new event caters a lot more to drinking adults listening to outdoor tunes inside their new social district rather than entertaining families.  

[Willy]

Drinking parties are just what is needed to teach kids how to spend they're time. Very responsible Ludington.