It's since grown, and now requires more than 100 volunteers to put it on every Thursday evening during the summer.  Some businesses on St. Joe, though, say the event is not all positive.  But Summer Nights' president Sandy Schwan says the event gives Rapid City a sense of community.  Schwan says, "The mission of Summer Nights is to create an arts and entertainment festival that will enhance Rapid City's public image, increase tourism, and assist in the revitalization and the growth of downtown Rapid City. Not all would agree with our mission, and in fact to some degree I think it's not entirely accurate because Summer Nights is much more than just a festival."  Dennis Halterman says, "Many of us are negatively impacted by the street closures, by the early street closures. It's not revitalization; it creates an illusion of revitalization. It's not sustainable and therefore it's destined to collapse by definition anyhow if we don't get together and start talking about solutions. That's all I want to do is find solutions."  The council unanimously approved the event permit with the stipulation that the police chief has the authority to move the stage whenever he wants for public safety reasons.  The first Summer Nights is set for June 6th.

Tessa Thomas