Freedom Festival's return to downtown is in question

Freedom Festival officials say they aren't sure if they'll be able to return to downtown Cedar Rapids for the annual celebration this year.

Officials met with the city manager's office to talk about their permit to hold the festival downtown.  Janet Wilhelm with the Freedom Festival says city staff indicated they wanted to deny the permit in their suggestion to the city council.  The council is set to vote on the permit at its meeting next week.

One reason for denying the permit is because to this date, the city still doesn't know if the land above the parking garage in May's Island is structurally sound.

Flood Recovery Director Greg Eyerly says he plans to have it inspected within the next few weeks and hopes to have a final report available in the next few months, but was unable to give a specific timeline.  He says city staff have told him it will be impossible to have the parking garage open and useable before the summer festival.

More information is coming on this story throughout the day.

-- Justin Foss, KCRG-TV9