Grove Park Prom Showcase a No-Go in SO

The needs a new home. The annual event, which has taken place at Grove Park since at least 2006, must find another venue after. This year’s prom is scheduled for June 21.

Allison V. Brown, CHS parent and Grove Park neighbor has served as an unofficial coordinator, along with other local families. He explains that students – last year’s total was 300 -- come to the park in their prom finery, usually about two hours before the prom begins. Students gather with friends and pose for photos.

As the event has grown in popularity, explains Brown, it has become more elaborate, with a red carpet and public address system. Last year teacher Johanna Wright was a volunteer who announced students’ names as they arrived. “Kids want it and kids love it,” says Brown. “It’s a very well-run event.” He noted that South Orange police have been involved since the beginning, helping to direct traffic and keep streets clear.

However, the tradition is likely to change. Brown noted that last year, he was told that he needed a permit and additional paperwork. Since he learned of this just two weeks before the event, the requirements were waived.  However, this year permission is unlikely to be granted.

Last year’s event, recalls Brown, began smoothly. However, at around 7:30 pm, about 30 minutes before the event was scheduled to conclude, an unknown disturbance caused people to run from the park.

South Orange police headquarters called for mutual aid at 7:30 p.m., and units from Maplewood, Orange, East Orange, Newark, West Orange, Millburn, Springfield, Union, the Essex Sheriff's Office and the State Police arrived to assist. (South Orange Police Chief James Chelel explained that police were already in the area to assist with breaking up a fight at a basketball game in a neighboring town.) According to Chelel, the crowd had dispersed by 7:40 p.m., and the area was cleared by 8:10 p.m.

Seven arrests were made on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to possession of a weapon (brass knuckles) to possession of marijuana.

“Last year,” says South Orange Village Administrator John Gross, “We determined that we could not allow thus event to occur in Grove Park any longer because of security concerns related to our inability to restrict attendance to the participants of the event at this location.” He added that, to his knowledge, “no formal special event permit has been requested for this event in South Orange. However, if one were to be submitted, it is doubtful that it would be approved without addressing the issues identified last year.”

Parent Kellye Stafford is taking the lead in finding a solution or venue for the showcase. She notes, “This event was created by the students in 2006 to show off their stuff and have their family members to take pictures of them and their friends at one location. That way we don't have to drive from house to house taking pictures. The event is never long because the seniors are on their way to their prom celebration.” Dismayed that the event is in jeopardy, she is looking for a solution, whether a site in South Orange or Maplewood.

The showcase is not a school or district-sponsored event. However, Brown and Stafford would both like to see Columbia High School take a role in discussions. “I think that if we all [South Orange, Maplewood and school district officials] got in one room with the goal of making it happen,” says Brown. “It would happen.”