By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The City Council announced at its recent meeting that the Bangs Avenue parking garage will be free on the first Saturday of every month until September. The hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m It is hoped this will be an incentive to increase business in the downtown area during the summer season.
The Springwood Park Summer Music Series is now underway but there are two other free music venues during the week. On Wednesday MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos on Cookman Avenue sponsors music and the Asbury Park Concert Band and as in past summers the Jazz Band will be playing at Convention Hall on Thursdays.
-Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said in honor of July’s African American music month the city library was holding an exhibit including photos and films of musicians who have performed here. She asked anyone with memorabilia of music heritage from Springwood Avenue to bring it to the library to be scanned. All documents will be placed at the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University.
Clayton also began a discussion about installing an all weather structure over the stage at Springwood Park to replace the sun shade structure now in place. She said it would protect the musicians in the event of rain as well as sun.
Mayor John Moor raised concerns about the costs involved including engineering fees and suggested installing an awning that could be rolled up when not in use.
City Manager Michael Capabianco said he would what the cost of a new structure would be. Any all weather structure should be built to withstand category four hurricane winds, he said.
Councilwoman Eileen Chapman said a pitched structure to replace the flat roof would change the sound of the music and how it is projected and the new structure would have to be built with the proper acoustics.
– City Attorney Frederick Raffetto said police received numerous noise complaints about the Festival of Life, religious festival, which took place in Bradley Park every night last week.
Raffetto said police informed festival organizers that the sound could not go above a certain level or they could have their permit revoked.
