Skip to main content

'Could've-Happened-Here' Thoughts by Festival Park Staff

July 16, 2024 10:45a

(WGTD)---A few Racine area residents watched the events that unfolded in Butler, Pennsylvania Saturday night with somewhat of a unique perspective. They are employed by the management company that runs the City of Racine’s Festival Park—the site of a Trump outdoor rally on June 18th. 

Kevin MacDougall is the park’s sales director and had a direct hand in working with the Trump campaign and the Secret Service. MacDougall was glued to the TV Saturday night. "I was upset," he said. "You think that could've happened here and what that would've felt like."

From his perspective, MacDougall described the security precautions for the Trump visit in Racine as seemingly robust. Even still, there were thoughts of the potential for an unspeakable occurrence. "We had a bit of a gallow's humor," MacDougall said. "I just happened to say if something happens to President Trump here, our park becomes Dealey Plaza--it's a tourist destination." 

Dealey Plaza in Dallas was the site of the President Kennedy assassination in 1963.

MacDougall said Secret Service discussions in advance of the Trump visit included discussions on strategies for protecting the park from elevations surrounding the site, such as possibly placing agents in empty condos. He says agents also consulted with city engineers over the existence of underground storm and sanitary sewers through the park. 

MacDougall said he fully expects additional presidential campaign events to be scheduled either at Festival Hall or Memorial Hall.  

-0-