Fights, noise and traffic concerns prompt proposed noise ordinance at Middletown fairgrounds and Speedway
Residents alerted News 12 to videos of several recent fights at night that they say recently broke out at the fair.
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News 12 has learned that neighbors who are concerned with fights, noise and traffic during events at the Orange County fairgrounds and Speedway are behind a proposed noise ordinance that may impact the business in the Town of Wallkill.
The fair is considered the oldest-running county fair in the state and has been held for more than 100 years, but it seems times are changing - and that some officials and neighbors feel as though the way events are held there should change, too.
“The crazy music was just loud. You could hear it through the walls,” says one neighbor, Bryan Gonzalez. “When you’re blasting music first ting in the morning, waking people up, it’s not fair.”
Police say a recent Speedway event at the grounds on Wisner Avenue prompted dozens of complaints about loud music for hours as early as 8 a.m.
“I feel like the windows shouldn’t vibrate when it’s coming from all the way over there,” said Gonzalez.
Residents alerted News 12 to videos of several recent fights at night that they say recently broke out at the fair. The videos show several groups of people punching and kicking each other with rides in operation in the background. One video shows a person being body slammed in front of a roller coaster.
Business representatives spoke during a town meeting last week about the possibility of a new permit process for events and a noise ordinance.
“I cannot promise you we’re not going to have people. Ten-thousand people on the grounds are keeping the place open,” said the representative.
No one from the fairgrounds has returned News 12's calls, and Town Supervisor George Serrano won’t say much other than that they want the business to be “good neighbors.”
Other neighbors say they’re not bothered by the noise or large gatherings.
“The races don’t bother me. The noise doesn’t bother me,” says Louis Cabrera, who lives across the street from the fairgrounds. “I got used to it.”
News 12 has requested more information from town officials about the proposed noise ordinance or other restrictions, such as when they may take effect, but has not received a response.
