PROVO -- Although details remain up in the air, Provo's annual July 4 Balloon Fest should manage to jump the hurdles and launch on schedule, Mayor Lewis K. Billings believes.
The Balloon Fest, part of America's Freedom Festival at Provo, faces the prospect of being grounded after 15 straight years. The balloon event's launching pad, Fox Field, has been turned into a girls' softball complex for Provo High School.Although the field is owned by the Provo School District, Freedom Festival organizers have used it for years to stage a balloon festival that draws dozens of participants and tens of thousands of spectators each Fourth of July. But Freedom Festival officials were surprised several months ago when crews began removing grass and installing fences for two softball fields.
The Federal Aviation Administration won't grant permission for balloons to launch unless organizers can clear an area with a 400-foot radius. To accomplish that, several of the brand-new fences would have to be removed.
"I realize the school district owns the field, but it's one of the last pieces of open space in the central city," said Balloon Fest chairman Bill Talbot. "This is one of the oldest balloon fests in the West."
Talbot said it was unfortunate the school district and Freedom Festival couldn't have coordinated plans before the fences were installed. But Provo High Principal Sam Jarman said the school had long planned to build a softball complex on the site. About $23,000 was put into the project, he said.
Now, Billings is orchestrating a plan to have some of the permanent fences removed in favor of portable replacements. Several weeks ago, Billings said the cost of the changes could range from $5,000 to $8,000. But after meetings with public works crews and fence contractors last week, Billings said Monday that the costs are coming down.
The mayor anticipates receiving a final estimate next week. After that, Billings hopes to sit down with Provo School District and Freedom Festival representatives to come up with a plan.
"We expect it's going to be resolved," Billings said. "I don't think it's right to say who will be responsible to pay until we know how much it will cost."
But Jarman made it clear the school will not foot any of the bill.
"The Balloon Fest people will be putting forth the funding necessary to make changes," he said.
Billings has volunteered the time of Provo crews to take the fences down in preparation for the balloon event, and to put them back in place afterward. Next year, Provo High intends to install outfield fences that presumably would have to be removable as well.
It has not been decided whether fences would be completely removable or would be on hinges so they could swing out of the way of balloons, Jarman said. What has to come down is the western portion of backstops and fences for the two fields, including a dugout but not the tallest portion of the backstops, the principal said.
Balloon event organizers hope the resolution comes soon because would-be participants already are wondering if they should make plans to be in Provo. The event is scheduled for July 3 and 4, although Talbot said some balloon owners are wondering if the event will happen at all.
"We've been told to go ahead," Talbot said. If not, "there are a lot of people who would be upset."
You can reach Edward L. Carter by e-mail at carter@desnews.com