Kankakee’s historic railroad depot provides the quaint, ideal setting for the city’s Merchant Street MusicFest . Now named the Harold & Jean Miner Festival Park, thanks to the generosity of the Miner Foundation in Watseka, a permanent stage on the hill (just off Court Street) was built last year.

Volunteer organizer Allison Beasley marvels at the setting for this great MSMF ........

“It’s an electric feeling here, it’s a quirky, exciting setting and brings so many people together,” Beasely said. “We like that we’re not spread out; it’s a unique setting with so much personality and ambiance.”

Kankakee Police Lt. Donell Austin says law enforcement presence also includes kids activites in a designated Kids Zone, with a dunk tank to raise money for a great cause..........
Special Olympics will benefit from the dunk tank and Austin said several officers will be involved.

“We want interaction in the community and this festival will encourage that,” Austin says. “We’ll be out in force and keeping a close eye on all the activities.”
Austin said community-policing is part of what Police Chief Price Dumas is striving to achieve. .....

94.1 WGFA