By Ronald W. Weathersby
For nearly a decade the Soul Food Festival held in 12 cities across the country including Nashville has celebrated the tradition and the camaraderie associated with soul food while bringing together family and friends in an outdoor concert setting. The festival is organized by The Kinfolks Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City.
The festival employs over 200 locals per year and has been held in Nashville for eight years, the last seven have been held at Riverfront Park.
However, after an eight year run in Nashville, the future of The Soul Food Festival has been “severely compromised” according to Pat Williams, president of the foundation.
“Due to what we believe to be discriminatory practices and harassment from the Department of Public Works, Department of Special Events and the Metropolitan Police Department every year for the past seven years The Soul Food Festival has been challenged,” Williams wrote in a letter to the Tribune. “This year 2013 was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
“In March of 2013 I was informed by Gordon Richard (then event coordinator for Riverfront Park) that the barge/stage would no longer be available. Mr. Richard stated that the city had voted against providing the barge/stage due to the incident that took place in which the stage collapsed during a concert in inclement weather resulting in several deaths. The City had decided to relieve itself of that liability by no longer making the barge/stage available for any events. Richard concluded by stating that all event organizers will need to provide their own stage which will be placed on the concrete dock.”
However, on June 4, 2013 Williams received a text message stating the barge was on the riverfront for the Country Music Awards (CMA).
When Williams contacted Richard he was told that the city voted for the CMA to be the only organization to use the barge/stage and it will be for one use only for 2013.
“I replied this is unbelievable to my ears and could not understand why The Soul Food Festival was not considered after demonstrating safe production habits for seven years. I went on to say that not having that barge/stage severely impacted the infrastructure of the event and made it very difficult for attendees to view the concert from stage right and stage left. Also, having to set the stage up in what was once the VIP area not only decreased our capacity but created a major loss in revenue as the VIP section has sold out in the past seven years.”
Metro Parks Director, Tommy Lynch told the Tribune that the barge decision was made before the request came from Williams.
“Metro Parks decided to take the barge out of commission in the winter of 2012. The CMA and the CVB were the last organizations to use the barge. These decisions were made long before the department was contacted about the Soul Food Festival,” Lynch said in an email to the Tribune. “When Mr. Williams made initial contact with our Special Events Division, he was told that the barge would not be available. Please note the Taste of Music City, Pride Fest, and the new Dancin on the River concert series have all taken place without the use of the barge.”
Unfortunately, Williams’ problems with Metro did not stop there.
“Four weeks prior to the festival we were informed by Public Works that Central Parking was requesting that we rent the 64 parking spaces located on 1st Avenue and Broadway during the hours of the event. It is our understanding from Public Works that the reason for this request is because Central Parking does not feel they can maximize their revenue when 1st Avenue is closed from Demonbreun to Broadway. Upon contacting Central Parking to inquire about purchasing the 64 parking spaces we were informed that it would cost of $5,000. We were also told by Public Works that if we did not purchase the parking spaces Public Works would have to open up lanes for vehicles to travel from Demondreun north of 1st Avenue to west of Broadway.”
The spaces rent for a maximum of $25 for a 24 hour period. That is a total of $1,600 which Williams offered the owners. Central Parking asked $5,000 for the spaces.
Williams also said that up until this year there has never been such a request and that Metro Public Works has “always issued a permit to close 1st Avenue and Broadway from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue.” Additionally it had been stipulated in the action plan for the Metro police officer that was posted at the road closure to allow vehicles through to facilitate parking in the lot. In fact, according to the event organizers the parking lot traditionally has been full to capacity during the hours of the festival.
As a non-profit, the successful execution of the event is based upon adhering to a concise budget to ensure that ticket prices remain affordable says Williams.
“Unfortunately the Soul Food Festival cannot afford to take on additional expenses. Upon sharing this information with the City no regard or concessions were extended to us.”
As a result the organizers not only lost revenue associated with the VIP tickets, when the travel lanes were opened to allow Central Parking to maximize their parking revenue the event suffered more financial losses.
Williams believes other area merchants were dealt a financial blow as well.
“By accommodating central parking regarding the 64 parking spaces it simultaneously impacted The Soul Food Festival while also inconveniencing other businesses,” Williams explained. “It takes all of Broadway to create sufficient ticket taking lanes to avoid long lines. Opening up a portion of Broadway created longer lines that congested the area and interfered with the entry way of businesses along 2nd Avenue.”
Williams also noted that the city’s decision required that the festival hire additional traffic police, as well as install additional fencing down Broadway and a portion of 1st Avenue to create a division between vehicles and pedestrians.
The list of last minute directives issued by Metro did not end there. According to Williams he was dealt a critical blow on the morning of the festival.
“For the past six years we have been allowed to enclose the north end of 1st Avenue with fencing to prevent people entering our venue. That location is not a point of entry,” Williams said. “During the festival a staff member told me that a police officer was allowing people to freely walk into the event at 1st Avenue and Church Street. When I reached the area I noticed Lt. Corman and Gordan Richard overseeing two festival staff members adjusting the fence. When I inquired about it I was told that we did not have a sidewalk permit and the fence had to come down. This was the first time in six years that I had heard of needing a sidewalk permit. As a result we estimate that over 500 people entered the festival at no cost.”
Williams said that before a promoter is granted access to Riverfront Park a special events permit is issued by the Special Events Project Director which lists the requirements a promoter must adhere to.
“Upon reviewing the checklist there is no listing of a sidewalk permit among the 37 requirements,” Williams said. “Also upon reviewing the site map that the area in question was to be fenced in and the plan was approved by Special Events Project Director, Gordon Richard.”
After hundreds of people were allowed to meander into the festival without paying Williams said a city fire inspector closed the area off.
For these reason and more Williams is rethinking his eight year relationship with Nashville.
“Every business has a right to maximize their potential revenue opportunity. It is appalling that a governmental entity would take the position of accommodating one business at the expense of others. It is very disappointing that we are not offered the same concessions as our peers. In our opinion we have been severely discriminated against and we refuse to continue to make a positive impact in an area where we don’t feel welcome.”
Williams Continued, “In spite of the escalating challenges we would like to thank everyone who has supported The Soul Food Festival for the past eight years. Although it is our intention not to return to Riverfront Park or any other facility governed under this administration please know that we will exhaust all resources made available to us to find another location. However, in the event that we can’t find another location please know that we tried.”
The Tribune sent an inquiry to Metro Parks Special Events Coordinator, Lisa King she has yet to respond.