A planned evening of kayaking and jazz music at a South Side beach faces significant hurdles after the Chicago Park District denied a necessary permit. This denial comes despite similar approvals granted to the same event last year.
The Venetian Kayak Night, organized by the Rainbow Beach Park Advisory Council, is scheduled for August 8. Park District officials attribute the permit denial to a scheduling conflict with another event, a Night Out in the Parks, occurring on the same date.
The kayaking event was to feature a mile-long paddle from South Shore Beach, accompanied by a performance from the Isaiah Collier Quartet and the launch of biodegradable lanterns. In contrast, the Night Out in the Parks, organized by the nonprofit Full Moon Jam, will showcase fire performers and drummers near the park’s field house.
According to Park District spokesperson Irene Tostado, the decision was made due to concerns over “quality and safety,” stating that overlapping events could hinder effective operations and visitor experience.
“The Venetian Kayak Night was proposed for the same date as the previously scheduled Night Out in the Parks Full Moon Jam that occurs on the beachfront,” Tostado explained. “Due to the scheduling conflict, the Park District could not accommodate the Rainbow Beach Park Advisory Council’s permit request for kayaking in the lake on the same day.”
Ana Marija Sokovic, the president of the Rainbow Beach Park Advisory Council, criticized the Park District’s rationale as “ridiculous.” She expressed a willingness to collaborate on addressing any safety or operational concerns related to the concurrent events.
Despite efforts to coordinate with organizers of the Full Moon Jam, Sokovic feels that pressure from Alderman Greg Mitchell (7th) played a significant role in the permit denial.
Sokovic voiced her disappointment, urging Parks officials to work together to make the event happen rather than shutting down proposals without clear justification. “Parks officials should come to us [and see] how we can make this happen together,” Sokovic said. “But don’t just stonewall us for no obvious reason.”
The permit denial has sparked further controversy, as it coincides with claims that Mitchell has previously obstructed various community activities and businesses in his ward without explanation.
Requests for comments from Alderman Mitchell went unanswered, and a staff member from his office indicated that he would not be available for some time. The staffer also mentioned that multiple attempts to contact Mitchell’s scheduler had gone without a response.
The Park District’s internal procedures typically require a minimum of 14 days for special event permit reviews. However, in this case, the Park District rejected the kayaking event just three days after the application was submitted on June 29.
Martha Mendoza, the South Region project manager for the Park District, confirmed that Sokovic was informed of the denial on July 2, stating that they could not approve the activity request form.
Adding to the tension, Sokovic suggested that the abrupt nature of the denial could be linked to Mitchell’s interference. She recalled a Member of the park advisory council’s earlier request for a supportive letter from Mitchell regarding the permit, to which the alderman never responded.
Evidence suggests that Mitchell raised concerns about the kayaking event with organizers of the Night Out in the Parks, though details from an internal communication were withheld from Sokovic by a park employee.
This is not the first time members of the Rainbow Beach Park Advisory Council have expressed frustration over Mitchell’s actions. Sokovic mentioned blocking of their planned Juneteenth celebration in 2024, although council members chose not to publicly air their grievances at that time.
Despite these obstacles, Sokovic is not ready to give up. “I’m escalating this to [parks Supt. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa] and the higher echelons in the Park District,” she declared. “We need to stop [Mitchell] from stopping people from doing positive activities in the park and on the beach.”
Additionally, there have been various allegations against the alderman regarding his obstructive behavior regarding businesses in his area, including instances where he reportedly threatened landlords engaging in activities such as housing migrants without his permission.
In response to inquiries about the involvement of Mitchell in the permit denial, Tostado reiterated the Park District’s policy. She clarified that while alderpersons do not hold direct approval authority in the special event permit process, their input is taken into account as representative voices of their wards.
“Alderpersons do not have approval authority in the special event permit process, but they do provide a critical voice on behalf of their ward and as such we take into account their support and input accordingly,” Tostado stated.
Tostado also noted that the Venetian Kayak Night could potentially be rescheduled, as Sokovic may reapply for a permit for a future date.
Historically, the Park District approved the inaugural Venetian Kayak Night held last September, a successful event with no scheduling conflicts with other activities at the park, according to Sokovic.
“The idea here is not to raise hell,” Sokovic clarified. “The idea here is to have a positive event in the community happen, without being stonewalled for no objective reason.”
Before the permit denial, Rainbow Beach Park had been planning a busy summer full of activities to attract visitors, despite challenges posed by Park District limitations and neighborhood safety concerns.
Sokovic mentioned the importance of fostering engagement in the park, noting that it is essential to combat negative behaviors.
Members of the community, including Park Council treasurer Shirley Jackson, emphasized that visible activities contribute to safety.
“If residents see things happening in the park, they’re less likely to try to do something criminal or something that’s bad, because people are all around — playing baseball, listening to their music, having picnics, at Norm’s bistro, playing tennis, [and] watching movies in the park,” Jackson remarked.
In response to the summer’s activities, the park features a variety of free events in addition to the controversial kayak night, including sound meditations, performances by the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and pop-up theater events.
Residents seem eager to keep the momentum going, as they engage with multiple scheduled events designed to highlight the beauty and potential of Rainbow Beach Park throughout the summer.
image source from：blockclubchicago
