Island in the city norridge 2022

After bringing their first-grader and second-grader to the Island in the City festival in Norridge, Steve and Jennifer Meixner noticed the visible police presence officials instituted after last week’s Highland Park shooting. Police also searched bags as people entered.

“We walked in, we saw the police presence and we thought, ‘Well, this is really great,’ they’re very friendly and they’re everywhere, so it’s nice,” Steve Meixner said.

“We do feel safe here.

The 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge, which ran Thursday through Sunday, brought out between 40,000 to 50,000 people to the location at 4631 N. Overhill Ave., along West Lawrence Avenue.

Food trucks. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

This year was the 15th year of Island in the City, not counting the two years off due to COVID-19 for the full festival, said Annemarie Flaherty of Arlington Heights, executive director for the Norridge Park District.

Flaherty’s first Island in the City Festival was 2019 after having started as the park district’s executive director on May 1 of that year. For 2022′s event, skies were clear and banner weather helped to instill a summer experience for neighbors. There were food trucks and Sieb Field entertainment.

“(People) can come together and be outside, enjoy the summer, enjoy parks and recreation, it’s huge for them,” Flaherty added.

In one sign of the increased security after the July 4 parade shooting in Highland Park, police at Island in the City searched bags of attendees at checkpoints upon arrival to the festival.

Harwood Heights Police Chief John DeVries, whose department patrols Norridge Park, where the festival was held, said police did not find any weapons during the searches, which he said have actually been in place for a few years. In the past, they have mostly prevented minors from bringing alcohol into the fest.

“Yes, I did put a lot of police presence at that park. We wanted to do that just so people would feel safe,” he said.

Police, fire department and park district officials and the mayors of Harwood Heights and Norridge met after the Highland Park shooting to talk about safety, said DeVries and Flaherty.

“We said, ‘We can’t live in fear. We can’t live like this every day,’” DeVries recalled, noting they decided to go ahead with the festival. Police searched the area thoroughly prior to the event, and a lot of planning went into security, he added.

DeVries said the large number of police on hand created visibility, security to nearby residents and fest attendees and, if an event were to happen, an instant response team.

Flaherty said the planners wanted to account for the safety of the community, the attendees, the Norridge Park District staff and an estimated 20 volunteers, and also be respectful to Highland Park victims and families.

Officers check bags as people enter. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

With security modifications in place, DeVries said it turned out to be a peaceful, enjoyable festival.

Rocco and Dina Dote of Norridge attended with their children Elia, 5, and Anthony, 2.

“I’m having fun watching my kids having fun,” Rocco Dote said.

“It’s fun watching them have a good time and it’s fun seeing everyone from the community,” Dina Dote said.

For Dorothy Ellsworth of Norridge, vice-president of the Norridge Board of Park Commissioners as well as a grandmother and great-grandmother, taking rides on the Ferris wheel and the Pharaoh’s Fury brought back memories of Riverview Park, a Chicago amusement park which closed in the late 1960s.

“All the roller coasters we went on,” she reminisced.

“I’m a kid at heart.’

From left, on the Ferris wheel are Denise Glennon of Wood Dale, an administrative assistant with the park district and Dorothy Ellsworth of Norridge, vice-president of the Norridge Board of Park Commissioners.  Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Center, top, Annemarie Flaherty of Arlington Heights, executive director for the Norridge Park District, goes for ride on Pharaoh's Fury. From left are Flaherty’s colleagues Evan Clayton of Norridge, recreational supervisor, Dorothy Ellsworth of Norridge, vice-president of the Norridge Board of Park Commissioners and Jerry Hernandez of Aurora, superintendent of parks. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

The Free Fall ride. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Ave. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Center, waving at her father Rocco Dote is Elia Dote, 5, of Norridge. Elia’s sibling on right is Anthony Dote, 2. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

The Chicago skyline from the Ferris wheel. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Center, lower, Annemarie Flaherty of Arlington Heights, executive director for the Norridge Park District, goes for ride on Pharaoh's Fury. From left are Flaherty’s colleagues Evan Clayton of Norridge, recreational supervisor, Dorothy Ellsworth of Norridge, vice-president of the Norridge Board of Park Commissioners and Jerry Hernandez of Aurora, superintendent of parks. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Right, Annemarie Flaherty of Arlington Heights, executive director for the Norridge Park District, assists patrons. Images from the 2022 Island in the City Festival in Norridge on July 9, 2022 at 4631 N. Overhill Ave. along West Lawrence Avenue. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)