James Dean Fest organizers can set up vendors along the longest of two runways at Marion Municipal Airport next weekend, now that the Federal Aviation Administration has approved a partial closure.
Barely a week before the event, set for June 3 through 5, the FAA approved a request to close the 6,002-foot runway. In a three-page letter sent to airport officials Thursday, the FAA outlines specific conditions, including keeping open the airport's shorter runway for regular traffic.
"We could have five planes, we could have 50," said Andy Darlington, airport manager, who plans to provide extra staff during Dean Fest to handle air traffic - and ground traffic. He plans to shut down the longer runway, called the 4/22 runway, at about 9 a.m. Wednesday, setting out huge, lighted 'X' marks at both ends.
"Any time you close a runway, you have to make it so if somebody is coming in on a plane they can see it's marked off," said Darlington, who is borrowing the lighted 'X's from Muncie Municipal Airport. "In a normal situation we have orange fabric and make Xs. But we wanted something more noticeable for this."
Festival organizers initially wanted to close the airport completely for the three-day event in honor of Dean, who was born in Marion and grew up in Fairmount. But the FAA denied that request.
Festival organizers indicated the show would be a go whether the airport was partially closed or entirely open.
As part of the agreement to close runway 4/22, the FAA requires event promoters to pay the Marion Municipal Airport $20,000. Airport staff already are working overtime to prepare the grounds for the festival, Darlington said.
"We're keeping logs of everything we're doing," he said, adding that employees are mowing and patching holes in the ground to accommodate the crowds. "We're doing what we have to do, regardless of whether we get any money out of it. I hope this is a huge success for the city."
