DENVER—A Denver councilwoman says she will try to prevent a Massachusetts company from showing movies outdoors on a 30-foot-tall screen in City Park, saying residents are “intensely opposed” to the idea.
At-large Councilwoman Carol Boigon said this week that US OpenAir should instead show the movies at the Civic Center park across from the state’s Capitol because it would help bring people and “positive action” to a location otherwise known for attracting drug dealers and vagrants.
“It’s a beautiful concept in the right place, and City Park is not the right place,” Boigon said.
Civic Center was originally the location chosen by US OpenAir to start showing the movies in the summer of 2011 but the company canceled that idea in February because of a lack of sponsors. Christina Brickley, a spokeswoman for OpenAir, said the company has not made a final decision yet and is conducting community outreach.
The company has operated similar movie events around the world. Denver would be its first North American location.
The outdoor-movie event would seat 1,800 people. People would be charged $15 if they bought their tickets in advance and $20 if they bought them at the park. Denver would get a portion of the money.
Boigon said an OpenAir representative told her City Park is an appealing location because of its mountain views. The zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science also border the park.
Councilwoman Carla Madison, who represents the district that includes City Park, said she thinks outdoor movies could be good events but she won’t support the idea unless residents are behind it. She said while younger residents like the concept, there are others who don’t want for-profit companies charging for park events. Madison said she wanted Civic Center to host the events first before other locations tried it.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
