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Medieval folk apologize for larger than planned war By CHRIS BRISTOL Organizers of a medieval war game that drew a huge sword-swinging turnout last weekend near Howard Prairie Lake quickly made peace with Jackson County officials Thursday over neighbors' complaints. In an impromptu meeting with the county Parks Advisory Board, members of the Society for Creative Anachronism apologized for any inconvenience the bash at Lily Glen may have caused to a handful of residents who live near the county-owned park 18 miles east of Ashland. Neighbors claimed up to 4,000 people attended the three-day event -- far exceeding estimates made by organizers and possibly violating a 1971 state law that prohibits so-called outdoor "mass gatherings" without strict county oversight. "I'm sorry we upset some folks up there," said Renae Snow, the chief organizer. "We usually try not to do that." The mini-controversy began when the society, a role-playing international association since 1966 that celebrates legend and lore of the Middle Ages, encamped en masse at Lily Glen last weekend and staged a mock border war between the make-believe kingdoms of AnTir and West. Nobody was actually killed, of course, although a few minor injuries were reported. The event apparently went off without a hitch -- until after the fact, when two property owners who live in the area showed up Wednesday at the county Board of Commissioners weekly meeting. Rod Nygren and Bill Welch ticked off a number of specific complaints, dwelling especially on problems with traffic (they said bottlenecks led to dangerous tie-ups on Dead Indian Memorial Road) and their perception that participants gained access to sensitive wetlands and literally trampled much of the park underfoot. They voiced their concerns anew at the Parks Board meeting Thursday. "We don't have a problem with the group," Welch insisted. "The park needs to be used. It's not used enough. But the impact on Lily Glen was awful great for anything that's ever been done there before." Organizers initially admitted their original attendance estimate of 1,500 was way off, saying factors such as proximity to Interstate 5 and a three-day holiday weekend can affect turnout. They said the 1998 war in Crescent City drew only 1,200 people, whereas the year before more than 3,000 showed up for the war in Eugene. The annual war alternates between kingdoms every other year. AnTir represents members who live in the Pacific Northwest; kingdom West represents members who live in northern California and Nevada. But Snow later said her figures show a head count of just under 2,000 -- half the number claimed by neighbors Welch and Nygren. The actual number will never be known for sure. Employees of the county's Roads and Parks department also estimated it was closer to 4,000. Even so, county staff praised the event as well-organized and the participants as well-behaved. They said organizers of the event fulfilled all the obligations of the county's permit for the park -- trucking in drinking water, showers, and dozens of portable latrines -- and probably met many of the requirements imposed by the state's more restrictive Mass Gatherings Act. The law is triggered whenever outdoor events exceed 3,000 people. Moreover, they said the group did a much better job of cleaning up the park than other, more traditional clubs that have reserved the park in years past. "I don't know how they did it," said parks employee Dennis Nicholas, "but this place is in better condition than when they got here. I mean, this place was clean. "I'm really glad to have them," he added. "I hope they come back." In fact, Snow and other members of the group expressed interest in reserving the park as permanent site for future events. They said the group has had trouble finding a place in recent years that is big enough for events like the annual border war. "We don't want to do anything that would create bad blood," Snow said. "As our group grows, we need a place" to stage such events. Members of the Parks Advisory Board, along with Commissioner Jack Walker, pledged to work with the group in the future to minimize traffic problems and potential for environmental degradation. "You're being condemned for being too successful," joked board member Bob Seldon. "As long as you're willing to work with us, we're willing to work with you." Since the issue was not on the board's agenda, no formal action was taken. The members present also did not constitute a quorum. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA