Wilbraham Park in West Cape May. Photo by Jack Fichter

WEST CAPE MAY — While attending an event at Wilbraham Park might remind some of the Chicago’s hit record “Saturday in the Park,” it seems to remind Deputy Mayor Dick Rigby of Led Zeppelin’s “Trampled Under Foot.”

At issue, how many events should be scheduled in a park that has difficulty keeping a green lawn. Fewer events allow time for the park to recover from crowds.

Borough commission discussed the possibility of moving some events to Backyard Park, behind borough hall, site of the West Cape May Farmer’s Market, which has been successful to the point that traffic control is needed.

Mayor Pamela Kaithern said she believed events would be successful in Backyard Park noting the farmer’s market was successful on a rainy day.
“Backyard Park was built for traffic, Wilbraham Park was built for beauty, it’s the first thing you see when you come into town,” she said.
Kaithern asked Deputy Borough Clerk Kate Killian to ask organizations if they would consider holding events in Backyard Park.

Rigby said Backyard Park has 100 parking spaces and a police substation.
Wilbraham Park looked “trampled” after some events, he said.

Commissioner Peter Burke said an ordinance governing Wilbraham Park allows no more than eight events to be scheduled per year. He said he had discussed the possibility of two, two-day events with Art in the Park organizer Diane Flanegan, who was present at the borough meeting.
A two-day event would still fit within the eight-event maximum allowed in the ordinance, he said.

Flanegan said she wanted to hold two Art in the Park events this year, one to benefit the West Cape May PTA, another to benefit the West Cape May History Committee.
She said it was customary for arts shows to be held for two days, running Saturday and Sunday.

Burke said a two-day event would bring in more money for both the non-profit beneficiary and the borough.
“That’s 10 days you are going to be beating up the park,” said Rigby.

Flanegan said one fee would be charged to vendors for both days of a two-day event. She said she charges $75 per day for a 10-foot by 10-foot space in the “narrow end” of the park and $100 for the same size space at the wider end of the park where all food vendors are located.
A T-shirt vendor grossed $5,000 in one day, said Flanegan.
The current one-day fee for an organization to rent the park is $500. She suggested a $750 fee for a two-day event for organizations and to raise vendor fees by $25.

Kaithern suggested a rental fee of $250 for Backyard Park.
Due to Christmas, borough commission will meet this afternoon at 1 p.m. instead of Dec. 26.
Contact Fichter at (609) 886-8600 Ext 30 or at: jfichter@cmcherald.com