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Family movies in park returning this summerFamily movies in park returning this summer
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RIPON – If all goes accordingly, Family Movie Night could be held three times during the summer months.

Last week, the Ripon City Council agreed to bring back the free PG-rated features at the Mistlin Sports Park amphitheater.

“We started it a few years ago when families were struggling due to a weak economy,” Councilman Chuck Winn said. “We wanted to keep them closer to home by providing free entertainment for the entire family.”

Since 2010, families will bring their blanket or low-lying lawn chairs to Mistlin and enjoy the outdoor movie. Concessions were also made available thanks in part to the non-profit organizations.

This year, the city is planning two Disney films between May 30 and June 21. That’s the period when the family movies are made available by the distributor Frontier Media Inc., according to recreation director Kye Stevens.

“Disney is not available in August,” he said.

Instead, a non-Disney movie would be planned for that final summer month.

Cost to put on the family event is about $800 per movie. Included are licensing, distribution, and equipment use (The City of Ripon furnishes the sound system).

Council members also discussed monitoring the park during Family Movie Night. They’ve received complaints on some folks using the summer event as daycare for their children.

They’re also concerned about older teenagers creating problems.

“We can look into the unsupervised kids,” Stevens said.

Councilman Dean Uecker suggested possibly providing minor security.