Lights in the Heights: Has It Gotten Out of Hand?

Back in the day, we used to live in a tiny duplex near the corner of Euclid and Norhill; our front window looked out on the esplanade that is now center stage for the annual Lights in the Heights celebration.

We remember when it was a relatively low-key event. Now it's become huge, with the attendant parking and over-celebrating hassles that mad growth in such things can bring.

The Woodland Heights Civic Association is looking to address some of these concerns at a meeting this Saturday, reports Mr. Heights himself, Martin Hajovsky.

Among the items to be discussed, according to an e-mail invitation:

How does the neighborhood envision the event?

Street Closures and Streets Involved

Parking including idea of shuttle

Enforcement (Ticketing and Towing)

Public Event on Norhill Esplanade

Sound

Alcohol

Sounds like a full agenda.

More than 50,000 people now attend the event, in a neighborhood which definitely isn't designed to easily accommodate a sudden influx of 50,000 people. No one wants to see the thing end -- well, maybe there are some that do -- but at the very least more planning is called for.

The meeting to air concerns and begin hashing it all out is 9 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, 3311 Beauchamp.