Longview, TX — A noon meeting today of the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board could be the next step to securing alcoholic beverage sales at a downtown park.

Longview Chamber of Commerce leaders have asked the city to allow sales of alcoholic beverages at permitted events in downtown or specified parks. The targeted facility is Heritage Park, at Green, Methvin and Hoover streets, where a number of groups have expressed interest in holding events but will not confirm without the ability to serve alcohol, chamber Vice President Paul Anderson said Sunday. Alcohol is not allowed in any city park or facility except Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, where renters can obtain alcohol permitting.

“It will give us an ability to use (the park) more broadly,” Anderson said. “It will be done the same way that alcohol at Maude Cobb is handled.”

Community Resources Director Laura Hill said the request first surfaced in the chamber’s Main Street division and “went up through their administrative processes,” with chamber executives voting in favor of the recommendation this past Thursday.

“We knew it was coming up, so we put it on the agenda,” Hill said.

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