ST. LOUIS 鈥 Several residents, concerned about safety after an impromptu Pride event spiraled into violence last weekend, want to see bolstered security at the upcoming Grovefest.
More than 50 people have signed an asking that 鈥渙rganizers and city officials commit to providing adequate security鈥 at Grovefest, to be held in October. They point to recent chaos in the Grove district, with fights, hospitalizations, a shooting and four arrests. Pride festivities typically come several weeks before Grovefest, though they are held in the same area.
Grovefest organizers, though, say they don鈥檛 plan to do anything differently this year.
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Abdul-Kaba Abdullah, executive director of Park Central Development, which hosts Grovefest, said he respects the 鈥淔irst Amendment right of (locals) to sign a petition.鈥 At the same time, he doesn鈥檛 foresee major changes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always a great environment,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 on its 20th year, and we鈥檝e never had an issue.鈥
Police have blamed community leaders for the violence during Pride weekend, arguing the mayhem could鈥檝e been prevented if organizers had applied for a permit. Neighborhood leaders pushed back on that claim, saying they didn鈥檛 host an event and shouldn鈥檛 be held responsible.
In the petition about Grovefest, signers ask for a 鈥渟tronger security presence throughout the festival,鈥 crowd control plans and coordination between 最新杏吧原创 police and organizers.
But Grovefest organizers already plan for all those items, plus others, Abdullah said.
鈥淪ecurity isn鈥檛 just armed guards walking around,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 barricades. It鈥檚 making sure there鈥檚 adequate lighting. It鈥檚 having EMS in case it gets too hot.鈥
The plans haven鈥檛 been finalized yet, Abdullah said, declining to detail what they might look like or when they鈥檒l be finished.
He said he doesn鈥檛 understand why petitioners are asking for more security at Grovefest and not other events hosted in the district, such as the World Naked Bike Ride or Oktoberfest.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 get why Grovefest would be singled out,鈥 he said.
One of the petition signers, Tower Grove resident Andy Waschick, 52, said even though he feels security at Grovefest has been adequate in the past, he wants it to stay that way.
鈥淟iving in the city, there always needs to be a calming factor at play at events like this,鈥 he said.
Waschick said he doesn鈥檛 know how improved security would look, but he hopes to see city officials and organizers cooperate.
Another person who signed the petition, Naviinesh Gunalan, 25, who lives in the Central West End, says police need to take a more active role.
鈥淧olice need to be in the crowds so they can solve issues as they鈥檙e happening, before they escalate,鈥 he said.
Organizers obtained a permit for this year鈥檚 Grovefest, like they have for past ones and most other events held in the Grove. Lack of a permit was a prime reason why this year鈥檚 Pride weekend spiraled out of control, police spokesperson Mitch McCoy said at a press conference earlier this week.
A permit allows organizers to search attendees, close down streets and set up crowd control measures like fencing, McCoy said.
鈥淲ithout a permit, the rules are much more loose,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he permit tightens those rules.鈥
In an email, a police spokesperson declined to detail the collaboration with Grovefest organizers, saying the department wouldn鈥檛 鈥渄iscuss operational plans in detail.鈥
Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of June 8, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
