The City of Columbus, Indiana features a variety of municipal resources lending themselves to use for community events. Events require careful coordination between the Event Organizer and City of Columbus resources. If you or your organization are proposing an event, please thoroughly review this policy in advance of a proposed event date to ensure the policy requirements can be met.

The City of Columbus recognizes the constitutional rights of free speech, assembly, and expression. This Policy is intended to serve as a content-neutral, time, place, and manner regulation designed to promote public health, safety, welfare, and efficient use of municipal resources. It is also the intent herein to provide constructive guidance assisting organizers to produce the most successful and safe events possible. This Policy shall be applied in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner and shall not be interpreted or enforced based upon the viewpoint, content, or message of any proposed event, except as otherwise permitted by law.

Events must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and must be conducted in a manner that does not pose an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, or welfare. Events should enhance the residential and commercial vibrancy of the City of Columbus.

The City may deny a request to close City Right of Way if one or more of the following conditions apply:

  1. Private or family only events;
  2. Events closed to the general public, ticketed or not;
  3. The proposed closure presents a substantial and articulable risk to public safety that cannot be reasonably mitigated;
  4. The closure would unreasonably interfere with emergency access, critical infrastructure, or traffic circulation;
  5. The proposed event conflicts with previously approved uses of the same location;
  6. The applicant fails to meet application requirements, insurance requirements, indemnification provisions, safety planning requirements, or permitting requirements;
  7. The proposed activity would violate federal, state, or local law;
  8. The event requires municipal resources that are not reasonably available.

To stage an event in public space, owned by the City of Columbus, you must have an Event Application approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety or the Parks and Recreation Board. Approval of the Event Application does not relieve the Event Organizer from obtaining all other applicable City of Columbus, Bartholomew County, State of Indiana or Indiana Department of Homeland Security permits that would be required for this event.

1. Downtown Event

  1. If all or part of the proposed event is located within the area of First to Eighth Streets, and Lindsey Street to Lafayette Avenue.
  2. If the proposed event closure includes either or both sections of 4th Street from Jackson to Washington Streets and/or from Washington to Franklin Streets.
    1. During the event, the intersection of 4th Street and Washington Street must be staffed by security to assist pedestrians in crossing the intersection.
    2. The intersection of 4th Street and Washington Street should remain open until 5:00PM, on weekdays and weekends.
    3. If the proposed event closure includes InterOculus (the intersection of 4th and Washington); the intersection can be closed on or after 5:00PM. This results in Washington Street closing from the midblock alley between 3rd to 4th Streets, north to the midblock alley between 4th to 5th Streets. *No Parking would begin at 3:00PM.
  3. If the proposed event closure includes Washington Street between 3rd and 4th Streets ONLY (does not include the intersection of 4th Street and Washington Street), this closure can begin at 3:00PM with No Parking beginning at 1:00PM

2. Mill Race Park Event

If the proposed event meets one (1) of these criteria

  1. Estimated attendance over 250;
  2. Plan to serve alcohol;
  3. Homeland Security approval will be required;
  4. Request is for full park closure

If proposed event does not meet any of the above criteria, this Event Application is not needed. Please contact the Parks Department at 812-376-2680.

  • Fees, insurance and contracts for Mill Race Park Events are all administered by the Parks Department.
  • Department of Public Works Streets, Traffic, Sanitation & Recycling services are not available for events at Mill Race Park.
  • Approval of the Mill Race Event Application may be subject to other conditions that may be specified by the Parks and Recreation Board.

3. Run, Walk, or Ride Event

  1. If the proposed event uses any combination of city streets, sidewalks and/or People Trails, please complete the application.
  2. If the proposed 5K route is ONE of the FOUR designated People Trail routes, do not complete application. Contact the Parks Department at 812-376-2691.

4. Any Other City Property Event

  1. If the proposed event does not fit the other three (3) event types but is on City property.

  2. If the proposed event utilizes City streets and sidewalks or any other City Right of Way.

  3. Events requiring this type of Event Application would be closing City streets for a neighborhood block party, a neighborhood holiday parade, a church community outreach event, high school band competition, school/church fall festival, etc. Contact specialevents@columbus.in.gov with any questions.

Do not complete the application if the proposed event is to be held at NexusPark Fieldhouse, NexusPark Community Center, Parks & Recreation outdoor sports facilities, parks, or park shelter houses

City Hall

Location

123 Washington St.
Columbus, IN 47201
(812) 376-2500
TDD: Call 711
Fax: (812) 376-2564
Contact Us

Hours
Monday – Friday
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