The organizers of a 10-day fair planned at The Diamond have reached a compromise with Richmond police that will allow the event to begin Sunday, two days later than planned, Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood said last night.
"What we did, we talked about postponing it just a few more days to allow my department to be better prepared for it," Norwood said. "So we compromised on Sunday" as the fair's opening day.
Several other issues related to "some small statistical things that have to do with the [number] of officers and the length of time" also were discussed and worked out, Norwood said.
But "it essentially came down to a better start date that would allow me and my people logistically to make sure it's a safe event for everybody," the chief added.
Fair operator Philip Downing could not immediately be reached for comment last night.
The Richmond Fair had been scheduled to run Friday through July 26 in the parking lots around the baseball stadium on North Boulevard. However, Assistant Police Chief David M. McCoy said in an e-mail during the weekend that the police department had advised the fair operator "that a permit for the carnival is not going to be issued."
Downing said earlier that he believed he could resolve the police department's concerns, perhaps by using nonpolice security personnel, if officials would talk to him. He said he drove from Memphis, Tenn., to Richmond to meet with officials.
Downing's company, Fair Nation Inc., has a contract with the Richmond Metropolitan Authority to rent the space at The Diamond for about $20,000. The contract is contingent upon Fair Nation obtaining all necessary permits, including those for rides, health issues and security.
Downing said yesterday afternoon that he has retained Insight Investigations and Security Services Inc. of Richmond to provide security or to supplement police security at the fair.
"We're prepared to work alongside [city police] to make this go off without a hitch," Downing said.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.
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