The following item by Nick Halter was published in a recent issue of the Southwest Journal:

PARK BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT FOR PARADE PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL

First Avenue will hold an outdoor music festival at Parade Park on the weekend of July 21-22.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on Dec. 7 approved a five-year contract with the music venue so that it can hold a two-day festival.

Under the proposed contract, the Park Board will get $2 from every ticket sold in 2012 plus 15 percent of gross beverage and food sales. First Avenue will progressively have to pay more to the Park Board for admissions each year, and by 2016 the Park Board will get $3.25 per head.

Dayna Frank, First Avenue’s executive vice president, said in late November that the club hasn’t decided if the festival will be Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday.

Parade Park is just west of downtown, north of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and south of the Dunwoody College of Technology.