The South Haven City Council has put the brakes on a craft show proposed for Stanley Johnston Park this summer.
At this week’s meeting, council considered a special event application from Nicole Miller and Cool Cats Events to hold the gathering August 14 and 15. But Mayor Annie Brown said there are other craft shows being held there around the same time and preference should be given to their local and nonprofit nature.
“This craft show is for profit,” Brown said. “It’s run by a person from Mount Pleasant, Michigan, working for a company that is based in Boston, Massachusetts. So I’ll be voting no because this craft show, I believe, is really stepping on the toes of our other nonprofit craft shows that benefit our local organizations.”
The applicant says she vacations in South Haven each summer. But the council was concerned about overcrowding and overusing Stanley Johnston Park. Member Mary Hosley said she doesn’t want events to damage the landscaping and affect the calming atmosphere of the attraction.
It was also noted the park will host a craft fair the week before, during the Blueberry Festival, and then another fair Labor Day weekend.
The council rejected the event application unanimously.
