Organizers of upcoming festival say there won’t be a repeat of 4/20 damage

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the field at Sunset Beach is closed for several weeks following the latest 4/20 rally, the organizers of a festival at Stanley Park are trying to offer some clarification about their event.

Organizers of this year’s SKOOKUM Festival say there is no need to worry about the grass being destroyed.

Up to 60,000 people will be dancing and partying on the fields at Stanley Park over three days this September.

Festival Director Paul Runnals says if it’s a dry summer — like it usually is — the grass should hold up just fine. “When the fields are dry, they’re usually rock hard and you just do not see those kinds of issues with pooling water and the damage you get earlier in the year.”

Runnals adds, given the time of the year, there’s not much need to rent protective ground covering like the folks behind the 4/20 rally used this month.

“We might put some stuff down on the Brockton [Oval] cricket fields, but that’s the only place where it would be contemplated. There’s just no need for it.”

Last weekend the Vancouver Park Board announced the field at Sunset Beach would be closed for several weeks following damage sustained during the 4/20 rally. One of the issues, according to crews, was that water pooled underneath the protective mats that were laid down and it ruined the grass. They also said some areas weren’t completely covered and things like heavy cables left their mark.

The first ever SKOOKUM Festival will feature headliners Florence and the Machine and The Killers.

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