State Fair Park officials preview new security changes
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Annie Scholz reports Video by wtmj.com
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MILWAUKEE- State Fair is just weeks away and officials are hard at work making sure last year's midway melee doesn't happen again.
It was mayhem outside State Fair Park last year, after fights broke at the fair's midway. Michelle Felten lives right across from where it all spilled into the streets.
"Traumatized," Felten remembered. "Really I was just in shock that something like that would happen for the State Fair."
The fair immediately implemented stronger security procedures after the mess, but this year, they're getting ahead of the game.
"We want to be a little proactive this year, we know the questions are going to come up, what are we doing different," said Rick Frenette, State Fair Park CEO.
State Fair Park CEO Rick Frenette, along with representatives from area police departments will detail the changes being made Wednesday morning.
But he gave TODAY'S TMJ4 a preview of what the public can expect -- like more security, more cameras, and more communication. There will also be a command post on site, and the fair will manage its own midway -- which TODAY'S TMJ4 is told is not a result of what happened last year, but something they've been looking into for a while.
Felten is all for it. "The State Fair has always been a wholesome upbringing time to relax and just enjoy yourself."
And that's exactly how the folks at the fair want you to remember it.
"The fair is a family event, it's a safe event and we want to make sure that nobody ruins it for the people that really want to have a great time," said Frenette.
Wisconsin's State Fair starts Thursday, August 2.
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