March 29, 2024

RAGBRAI festivities in Newton will take place at downtown square

Steering committee addresses concerns about closures, beer gardens at town hall

Guests of a town hall ask questions of the Newton RAGBRAI Committee on May 24 at the DMACC auditorium.

In addition to providing a more detailed vision of what Newton’s role as a meeting town for RAGBRAI might look like in late July, members of the committee that is organizing the event addressed a number of concerns regarding street closures, vendor applications and how the beer garden could affect bars.

The latter of which was the source of some confusion among bar owners who worried the proximity of the event’s proposed beer garden could pose a conflict to their establishment. They also argued their liquor licenses could be at risk to riders who wander outside the beer garden and into an area like Legacy Plaza.

With a brewery and pub located in the courtyard of Legacy Plaza, there are areas that allow customers to take their drinks outside. But there are marked areas that designate no drinks beyond a certain point. The initial idea of the beer garden was to have it near Legacy Plaza as opposed to the downtown.

Amanda Price, a member of the Newton RAGBRAI Committee, told bar owners she would meet with them or include them in on future discussions with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to figure out how the rule would apply. However, the committee eventually decided it would move the beer garden entirely.

Originally, the festivities were proposed to be located in two areas: Legacy Plaza and downtown Newton. Now, this is not the case.

In a statement to Newton News a day after the meeting, Price said the committee decided to move the location of the beer garden and entertainment to the future downtown park location, sometimes referred to as Harmony Park. The committee felt this location would benefit both the downtown, Legacy Plaza and the riders.

Logistically, Price said it makes more sense to do it this way so as not to combine the RAGBRAI beer garden with other bars. It also eliminates any complications with licensing and liability. The committee wants to ensure that every business has the best chance to succeed without creating safety issues.

“This new location is a great compromise for all of us as we will be a gateway to both the downtown and to Legacy Plaza,” Price said. “We appreciate the support of Legacy Plaza for this decision. It will be a great day for Newton and a great day for our business community.”

In 2018, Newton served as an overnight stay for cyclists. This year Newton will serve as a meeting town, and Price stressed the role is “nothing at all” like the overnight stay as riders will be pushed out by 3 p.m. But the town still wants to leave a good impression on cyclists and the people operating support vehicles.

Cyclists will be arriving in town from Colfax as early as 6 a.m. on Old Highway 6.

“They’re going to come all the way down to West Eighth Street, and then they’re going to go north to North Second Avenue West right in front of DMACC,” Price said. “They’re going to go down Second Avenue all the way to East Third Street and then jut back down onto First Avenue, all the way out of town.”

Price acknowledged a few people in the community have voiced their concerns about First Avenue, but she said it is ultimately the best way to showcase the community. The alternative was driving them through some residential areas of town. Price said the committee really wants to highlight and show off Newton.

Newton Police Lt. Wayne Winchell said street closures will be a challenge on the west side of town, particularly because of the Union Drive reconstruction. But there are already plans to make sure emergency vehicles have specific routes they can take to access the north and south sides of town, like West 11th Street.

East Fourth Street will likely have officers nearby to get traffic to cross through First Avenue. East 12th Street will be accessible as well, along with East 17th Street, East 23rd Street and Iowa Speedway Drive. Any streets that are “open” through First Avenue are really just “soft closures,” Winchell said.

“They’ll be manned by either officers, police personnel or volunteers that will be able to stop bike traffic when it’s needed, and then get vehicles across headed north or headed south across First Avenue,” Winchell added.

The Newton RAGBRAI Committee’s website www.newtonragbrai.com offers information to volunteers, vendors and those who want to provide entertainment the day of the event. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up using the form available for download on the website.

Vendors will have to pay a fee at the event. Nonprofits wishing to be food or non-food vendors will be charged $200, existing local businesses will also be charged $200 and for-profit/commercial vendors will have to pay $450 to participate. Applications submitted after June 1 will incur a late fee of $100.

Price encourages businesses on First Avenue to embrace the day.

“We could have over 20,000 riders coming through our community,” Price said at the town hall meeting. “We want to show it off. I’m proud of that. I want everybody to see Newton and I think some of the coolest parts of Newton is on Highway 6/First Avenue.”

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig has a strong passion for community journalism and covers city council, school board, politics and general news in Newton, Iowa and Jasper County.