Shreveport leaders explore safer event management in Red River District

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Shreveport’s Red River District went from thriving to dormant and is back on the road to thriving again. City struggling to ensure that, as it regains popularity, they can maintain public safety.

SPAR Event Services Division Manager Charles Hymes spoke before the Shreveport City Council on Tuesday to explain recent issues with event permitting in the open-air area under the bridge in the district.

With respect to permits, Hymes said, “It’s an open public space, so you really can’t stop people just coming down and gathering.” He went on to explain that the issue is not about people gathering; it is about promoting permitted events via social media, which enables rapid information dissemination, making unpermitted gatherings problematic and potentially dangerous.

“You’re inviting vendors, food vendors down there, and bands, and you want to use the stage and electrical in this when an event permit is required,” Hymes said.

Shreveport City Councilman Dr. Alan Jackson said city leaders know that increasing the visibility of not only the public space beneath the bridge but also the businesses that comprise the Red River District is an essential component of economic development. He acknowledged that several school alumni groups hosted events under the bridge, and the celebrations were welcomed; however, there is a process that must be adhered to for safety.

“The issue arises when we are experiencing large crowds, or just even with small crowds, how can we ensure that everybody is safe? That public space is not an open area in the sense that it’s visible from the road. It’s kind of, secluded, which means that we’re looking at ways to make sure that we have cameras that have been monitored,” Jackson said. “But also we have some, patrol, foot patrol walking through that area to making sure that everybody is conducting themself properly. And everybody is safe.”

He said that while city leaders collaborate to create a way forward that benefits residents and current or future businesses in the district, there are processes that everyone should understand.

“Number one, we want to get the word out that if anybody is planning anything under the bridge, there’s a process. If you’re planning something, we’re going to assume that you’re expecting, a crowd. So with that planning permit process, the city is going to ensure that we have appropriate them officers there. Based on the feedback we’re getting from the applicant and how many people they think they’ll be able to attract,” Jackson said. “If there is no planned event, we still want to have eyes on the ground, through this camera system, where we’re monitoring, the number of Shreveport citizens that are, that are, pretty much, under the bridge or patronizing any businesses. We want to be able to monitor that.”

A significant factor in that monitoring is the Real Time Crime Center and the Shreveport Police Department’s Mobile Command Center. During the meeting, Chief Smith acknowledged that there are 12 to 16 cameras in “every inch of the district.” Jackson said part of that monitoring will allow police to deploy the appropriate number of officers to ensure safety as the number of people congregating under the bridge grows.

Another idea floated during the meeting was for the city to enter into a lease agreement and allow a private entity to manage and assume responsibility for the space.

“If we decided to lease this space, to a private entity that would manage this common area, the entire common area goes from being public to private. When it’s a private area, there’s a lot more we can do to keep everyone safe. We can post signs that say no weapons. If you think about it, the state passed a law last year that says you are allowed to have a weapon concealed or visible in, just out and about in public spaces. That would include under the bridge, unless we had signs designating this as a private area,” Jackson said.

He said turning the space over to a private entity can also control who can enter the space and establish separate entry and exit points. Jackson said city leaders are looking into every possible solution to ensure that all can enjoy the Red River District.

During 2024’s Humor and Harmony Festival and other permitted events in the Red River District, metal detectors were set up at entry points at either end of the area under the bridge. Jackson explained that these safety measures are not permanent and that a private entity could permanently install them.

“Those metal detectors that we use on occasion for large crowds are temporary metal detectors. Metal detectors, or not, in our ordinance, they are something that the city can use and private businesses can use in order to help keep their constituents safe, but it’s not required. No bar, no clubs are required to have metal detectors. They’re not even required to search you prior to entry. That’s something that they do in order to ensure that no weapons are brought in.”

He says that working through the logistics of managing and maintaining the district is ongoing. However, there are measures in place that guide how the public is allowed to utilize the space and that guidance will be enforced.

“Through the permit process, in order to have access to the stage in the common area, you must follow that permit process. The city keeps the power off to that area unless it is permitted. So nobody has access to the stage. There’s no band that can play, no DJ that can set up on the stage unless it is properly permitted,” Jackson said.

He said tenants can play music from their businesses, but they are not allowed to use the stage in the common area without a proper permit.