LONGMONT — It may take weeks to determine exactly how one of the largest Christian-music festivals in the state benefited the city, say officials.
But initially, it appears Heaven Fest spread joy and commerce with few adverse side effects.
“I think this was good for the city,” said Mayor Bryan Baum, a supporter of the gathering of Christian musical acts and worshipers at the city-owned Union Reservoir.
Heaven Fest organizers paid the city $8,000 for the use of Union and its facilities from July 30 through Aug. 1. An estimated 40,000 people either camped or visited the site.
Heaven Fest leaders also paid off-duty police officers to provide security and harnessed volunteers to help clean up the festival site starting late July 31.
Officials inspected the property recently and found the cleanup efforts comprehensive. “I probably have not worked with a more courteous and enthusiastic group of people,” said Dan Wolford, Longmont’s manager of parks, open space and forestry.
Parts of the pastureland used by Heaven Fest-goers for parking show wear and tear and may have to be reseeded, Wolford said. There was also damage done to a fence.
Heaven Fest paid a $2,700 security deposit for the farmland adjoining the reservoir. A more detailed study of the area will be completed in September and the city will have a better idea of the environmental impact.
“But as of now, we didn’t see any significant damage and certainly not enough that would prevent them from coming back next year,” Wolford said.
Baum conceded that an estimated influx of $700,000 into the city by Heaven Fest participants was probably a “lofty” estimate.
“We probably won’t know for another quarter what that weekend meant for us (financially),” he said.
Some residents were critical of the adverse environmental impacts of the festival at Union Reservoir. They also said the city’s predictions of a huge financial lift provided by Heaven Fest were overblown.
“I can’t imagine the city got a net benefit financially from this at all,” said resident Kaye Fissinger. She, as well as the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, claimed the city waived administrative and operational fees for Heaven Fest while not doing the same for other organizations.
Baum denied any fees were waived. “They paid every fee we asked them to pay,” he said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
