After many meetings with city and University of Wisconsin officials, the newly licensed sponsors of the Mifflin Street Block Party revealed their finalized agenda Wednesday when they were granted a street use permit for the May 2 festivities.
This is the first time in 14 years that the Mifflin Street Block Party will have a sponsor.
Local production company DCNY PRO was awarded a street use permit after a unanimous vote by the Street Use Staff Team, which grants the company official sponsorship of the Mifflin Street Block Party. Entertainment will also be provided by WSUM 91.7, which will host a soundstage during the event.
David Coleman, co-owner of DCNY PRO, said sponsoring Mifflin is a positive step toward making the block party a substantial, memorable event.
However, even with a sponsor, none of the rules the police set for the street party will change. This means it will still be illegal to walk down the block with an open container, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
Although the city is on a time constraint to put the party together, Coleman said a sponsorship will offer more control and organized entertainment will better unite the local community.
Coleman added having a sponsor at Mifflin does not mean the freedom that comes with the event will vanish.
“A lot of kids are skeptical right now,” Coleman said. “No one wants this to turn out like a Halloween thing where you pay to get on the block — nobody really knows what is going to happen. I think that they’ll be pleased because we’re keeping it real by just having music, food and there’s no strings attached.”
According to WSUM technical director Matt Rockwell, the street will be blocked off from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and WSUM will host a soundstage at the southeast corner of Mifflin Street that will have DJs playing music until 7 p.m.
Dave Black, administrative program manager of WSUM, said he and WSUM station manager Jenny Underwood met with UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam last week. As long as the university itself does not have to endorse Mifflin, Berquam said she has no problem with WSUM hosting a soundstage, according to Black.
Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, who took an active role in planning the block party once she joined City Council, said the music as well as T-shirt, craft, food and drink vendors will make the event more “dynamic” for attendees.
“Mifflin was missing a number of pieces for many years, and on the 40th anniversary of the event, many of the people involved saw they needed to take it back to its roots to make it a positive neighborhood event,” Maniaci said.
Joel Plant, assistant to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said with a sponsor, Mifflin is taking a step in the right direction. He added the mayor is also very happy to see communal interest in live entertainment at the block party.
“With the pressed time segment we have here, I appreciate [the Street Use Staff Team’s] willingness to bend the deadlines,” Plant said. “[It] is a very advanced plan with some very experienced technicians, if you will, people who know what they’re doing in terms of live entertainment.”
Verveer will hold his annual neighborhood meeting with Mifflin residents, and police and fire officials today at 7 p.m. at the Madison Senior Center at 330 W. Mifflin St.
