Press release: Over Little 500 Weekend Unpermitted Gathering Forces Shutdown at Ellettsville Park; Police Cite Illegal Parking, Drug Use, and Reckless Driving

The following was sent to the Bloomingtonian from the Ellettsville Police Department Tuesday:

ELLETTSVILLE, IN (April 29,2025):  On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, the Ellettsville Police Department starting getting calls for service concerning a large influx of cars and pedestrian traffic in the area of Marci Jane Lewis Park, located near the intersection of Park Street and State Road 46.  It was reported that cars were parking in the streets, blocking traffic and in grassy areas.  The influx included pedestrian traffic with open air consumption of alcoholic beverages and the suspected use of Marijuana( also known as cannabis) due to the large cloud of smoke that smelled of Marijuana.  The initial influx caused little league baseball teams that were practicing in the park to quickly vacate for the safety of the children present, due to the nature of the illegal activities that were suddenly present.  

The Town of Ellettsville had not rented the park, nor issued any permits for the large gathering that suddenly popped up within the town limits.  When officers arrived, they found that the gathering was quickly growing and exceeding the confines of the park area.  Vehicles were illegally parking on all of the adjoining streets and also committing Criminal Trespass by filling local business lots and the nearby school without permission, while violating the State of Indiana laws concerning open beverages and the open air use of illegal narcotics.

There were also vehicles participating in illegal speed contests within the town limits and other vehicles making unsafe and reckless movements, such as “doing donuts” on the public roadways.

The criminal nature of the activities at hand, and the imminent danger that loomed from allowing such activities to continue, made it necessary to clear the park area and shut down the unlicensed gathering. The Ellettsville Police Department was assisted by Officers from the Indiana State Police and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in dispersing the crowd.  

In light of the event that took place, it seems prudent to remind people that the Corporate Town of Ellettsville, Indiana has local ordinances in place that cover parking, as well as Mass Gatherings.  In the event that you wish to have a gathering in the Town of Ellettsville that requires the use of one of the Shelters in the public parks, and/or  you plan to have a Minor Mass Gathering of 250 persons or more, or a Mass Gathering of 500 persons or more, please contact the Town of Ellettsville Clerk-Treasurer’s Office at 812-876-3860 for information on shelter rentals and the permitting process for a Mass Gathering.  If you plan to have a gathering at your house that will require on-street parking, please contact the Ellettsville Police Department at 812-876-2270 to ask for a parking variance during the hours of your gathering.  

Further information can be found at the website for the Town of Ellettsville, Indiana at https://ellettsville.in.us. 

The post Press release: Over Little 500 Weekend Unpermitted Gathering Forces Shutdown at Ellettsville Park; Police Cite Illegal Parking, Drug Use, and Reckless Driving first appeared on The Bloomingtonian.