WP City Council Approves a Slew of Special Event Liquor Licenses for Summer Events
Trevor Phipps
While Cripple Creek city leaders have signaled the red alert for opening the door for alcohol consumption at local park facilities, the City Above the Clouds has taken a vastly different stand.
In fact, the WP Council’s view on alcohol at area parks: Bring it On.
During a recent meeting, WP council members spent more than an hour reviewing and approving land use requests and liquor license requests for events. As a result, every event in Woodland Park this summer may sport an outdoor beer garden.
The represents a vastly different alcohol stance than the gaming town of Cripple Creek. When the city’s parks and recreation department opted to permit alcohol use on a limited basis in public outdoor facilities in downtown Cripple Creek, many residents cried foul. Their opposition eventually led to an all-out ban on alcohol sales and consumption in the town’s signature City Park, with no exceptions (see related story).
According to Woodland Park city ordinances, alcohol can be served at any public park as long as the operator applies to council for a special event liquor license. That is how many of the local events can allow alcohol consumption inside certain boundaries and fences within public property.
This summer, visitors and residents will be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage in beer gardens in town more than ever before. People will now even be able to drink during the weekly Farmer’s Market (on select dates) and during adult softball games.
During their June 18 meeting, the council approved a special land use permit of the America’s Mountain Festival, which will occur on the Tava House property on July 11. After some residents voiced concerns about the event in general, the city council decided that the applicants addressed every condition and concern required by current city ordinances. The event was approved by a majority vote in city council.
After that action, the town’s liquor license show began. America’s Mountain Festival was the first on the list. The city council quickly approved their liquor license requests after nobody spoke against the request.
The festival portion this year will be open to the public, and they will only need tickets to go to the concerts. Alcohol will be available and the event, expected to draw around 2,000 people, will run from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Beer Garden for Adult Softball and More
Next up on the list was a request from Gameday, Inc. to sell alcohol on select dates at the city’s Meadow Wood Sports Complex. Crystal DiFabio of Gameday took the podium and told her story to the city council.
DiFabio told the council that almost two years ago the non-profit organization running the concession stand at Meadow Wood lost interest in the project and stopped doing it. The snack stand, located within the Meadow Wood park, must be operated by a non-profit, according to current regulations.
“I can’t watch a building just get shuttered,” DiFabio told the city council. “All of my family either plays baseball or softball and so I said, ‘it’s time to start up a non-profit then.’ So, I created Gameday. And it bridges a gap between local youth athletes and the money which is earned at these events.”
After Gameday’s liquor license was approved, the Farmers Market was up next. The Farmers Market, which operates every Friday from June to September, asked for a liquor license for a beer garden during the times it holds events.
The council then approved the liquor license for the annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July event, which runs on Independence Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Symphony Above the Clouds then approved a separate liquor license for their concert that takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
City Manager Aaron Vassalotti said that fireworks will take place from the high school as long as the weather and fire ban allows this to occur.
WP Liquor Establishments Change Ownership
The BierWerks tap room recently went through new ownership. During their June 18 council meeting, the council approved BierWerks’ liquor license to be transferred to Baley Kohn
Banana Belt Liquors, one of the more popular liquor outlets in Woodland Park, also gained new ownership. David Lee from Thornton will now be the city’s long-running liquor store’s new owner/operator.
The last on the list during the council’s liquor show involved a license transfer for the former Rhapsody Bar located in downtown Woodland Park. The business operated about two years ago as a bar with an emphasis on wines and craft cocktails.
After sitting empty for quite some time, new owners purchased the building. The new owners say they want to operate something similar to what occurred at the former Rhapsody Bar. The council unanimously approved the new liquor license for Rhapsody Peak Bistro and Market owned by Diana Kane.
“We want to open a bistro,” Kane told the council. “We are considering live music on Fridays and Saturdays and that would be over with by nine. The food aspect will be paninis, fried bread, charcuterie and local farmers’ markets goods.” Also, the business will have a family-friendly aspect, according to Kane.
