The Lake Forest City Council on Sept. 15 unanimously approved new guidelines for temporary event installations in Market Square, creating clearer rules for groups that want to use the downtown space.
City staff had requested formal direction at a Sept. 8 council workshop on how to handle temporary installations in Market Square, specifically on the lawn, the walkways, landscape beds, the fountain and surrounding hardscape areas.
“The best attribute of this policy is that it provides information to the public to make informed decisions about use of that space,” said Alderman Richard Walther, 4th.
Community Development Director Catherine Czerniak mentioned the policy is designed both to protect the Market Square grounds and to give staff clear parameters to share with groups and individuals seeking to use the space.
“They do not limit what the message is but instead address the process and physical aspects of what private installations can look like,” Czerniak said.
Under the new guidelines, any installation must be tied to a special event, since the city already has a special event permit process. Installations must be surface-mounted with sandbags or bases and cannot penetrate lawns or landscaped areas.
Structures are capped at 10 feet in height with a maximum footprint of 100 square feet. Each event must have an official monitor, and only one event will be allowed per day. Groups are limited to one event per year.
Permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers must carry insurance, and the city will not be liable for equipment damage.
While staff initially proposed a five-hour window for events, Alderwoman Eileen Looby Weber, 4th, suggested extending it to eight hours including setup and takedown.
“It seemed like five hours was right, but there was no magic to that number,” Czerniak said.
Events, including removal of all installations, must be completed by 9:30 p.m.
Another change requires groups to request space at least 45 days in advance and no more than a year ahead of time. Alderman Nick Bothfeld, 3rd, proposed the restriction to prevent the same group from reserving space several years in advance.
After the meeting, Czerniak said the policy does not apply to events where people simply gather without installing physical structures — for example, the Sept. 21 rally at Market Square honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The city typically receives six to 12 requests per year, often from schools, local businesses, and nonprofit groups, Czerniak said.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
