The Riverside Town Hall can be a venue for community, non-profit, educational, and cultural groups for meetings and events on weekends, and for private events of Riverside Township residents only. Such use requires application at least 30 days in advance, and may also require certain permits from the Village of Riverside.

• Only Non-Profit Organizations (proof may be required) may hold fundraising events.
• The venue is not available to For-Profit entities.
• The Township incurs additional costs by opening the building to more events, therefore fees may be different on weekdays vs. weekends.
• The Township Supervisor reserves the right to waive fees.
• The Township board shall review each Special Use request and will limit the number of events for which it will make the facilities available, out of respect for area residents.
• Events serving alcohol require Township Board approval at a monthly board meeting. Please plan accordingly to submit your event alcohol request in time at a Board Meeting scheduled before your event. A schedule of current Township Meetings can always be found on our website.

With proper application and express limited permission, it is possible to serve alcohol at events in the Town Hall. The Township does not issue liquor permits, but the sale or service of alcohol at ANY PUBLIC EVENT will require a Daily Liquor Permit from the Village of Riverside as well as a permit from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. Host Liability Insurance will be required as described below. The Township must receive proof of these permits at least 1 week in advance of the event date.

A PRIVATE EVENT is one attended by invitation only, with no admission charged, such as a wedding, birthday party, baby shower, retirement, family reunion, or other similar party. The Village does NOT require a Daily Liquor Permit for PRIVATE EVENTS, but the Township will still require Insurance as described below.

All alcoholic service is subject to any Village ordinances, rules, and regulations that may apply from time to time, including time limitations and special event applications and permits. No alcohol is allowed outside the building, and no alcohol other than that served by the host is permitted.

Currently there is a village limitation on continuous time not to exceed (8) eight hours of sales and consumption of alcohol. Please see the Village’s website for current and further information.

The Township will require proof of Host Liquor Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000. The insurance policy must also correctly list “Riverside Township” as an additional insured.

If a bartending service is hired for the event, such vendors may carry such insurance, which in turn may satisfy this requirement. So long as the Township is named as an additional insured, such insurance is acceptable. Proof of insurance must be provided to the Township at least 1 week in advance of the event.

For such events, the Township will require an endorsement of the applicant’s Host Insurance coverage in the Township’s name. Such coverage would generally be an extension of the homeowner’s insurance policy. Contact your insurance agent to secure the coverage.

The Township reserves the right to require the presence of a custodian and/or the hiring of security, depending on anticipated attendance and the nature of the event. Additional fees will apply to cover the cost of additional personnel and is within the discretion of the Township Supervisor. Estimated guest count must be reported at least 3 days prior to the event, and posted occupancy limitations will be enforced.

There are limited kitchen facilities in the Town Hall, and the use of the kitchen requires a request on the application. The kitchen is not of commercial grade for food preparation, but it may be used for staging, limited refrigeration, and warming or maintaining temperature for foods prepared elsewhere. Fees for the Kitchen vary depending on the extent of requested use. Posted sanitation regulations must be followed. The Township does NOT own or provide dishes, flatware, or glassware.

The Village requires a food service application for food served to the public at PUBLIC EVENTS.

Building users must leave the facility as, or better than they found it. For larger events, a security deposit may be required in order to clean up extraordinary stains and damage. Events serving alcohol shall also require a security deposit to the Township in the amount listed in the schedule of fees. If the facilities are left in good condition with no special attention required, the deposit or portion thereof may be returned, upon inspection by Township staff.

Please note, the Town Hall has no public parking lot, and any user of the facility should take into consideration the issue of parking for all their guests. There is street parking both north and south of Guthrie Park, and there are a few street spots in front of the building, and across the street in front of the First American Bank. The parking lot between the Town Hall and Library may be used outside of business hours, respecting handicap and reserved signs. Most other area parking is on private property, and the Township cannot guarantee adequate availability of parking spots.

The Town Hall is a non-smoking building. Absolutely no smoking is permitted within the building. There are ashtrays outside the front entrance, but there should be limited congregation in that area. Please refrain from loud activities in deference to the residents of the community. No alcohol outside!

All occupants must vacate the building by 9:00 pm on Sundays, 10:00 pm Mondays – Thursdays, and by Midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings. Please plan your event accordingly.

1. Smoking is never permitted anywhere in the building, nor outside within 25 feet of any building entrance. No congregating around the ashtrays or in front of the building at any time.
2. Firearms, concealed or otherwise, are strictly prohibited in the Town Hall.
3. Alcoholic beverages must have prior approval – please see the “Special Use” section of the rules.
4. Food and or beverages require prior approval – please see the “Special Use” section of the rules.
5. Garbage containing food must be placed in the dumpster outside the rear entrance of the Town Hall prior to departure.
6. NO lighting effects with sparks, or open flames such as candles, may be used anywhere in the building. For food service, sterno-type warming canisters may be used so long as the food being warmed is attended throughout food service and server takes note of locations of fire extinguishers to use them in an emergency. Use of such warming devices requires prior approval upon application for building use.
7. Prior arrangements are required for the use of the Kitchen or Township A/V equipment (projector cart, projector screen, microphone).
8. DO NOT use nails, pins, or tape on the walls, doors, stage curtains, sconces, chandeliers or any other fixture in the building. Nothing may be affixed that could damage Township property.
9. Room lights must be turned off upon completion of room use.
10. In Room 22, the window air conditioner must be turned off at the end of room use.
11. The room will be arranged as requested, but if any tables or chairs are moved after set-up, PLEASE lift them and do not drag them across the floor.
12. Custodial services are not provided for evening Standard Use. For Special Use events, a custodian may be required to be on duty, based on the requested use and number of participants. In those cases, there will be an additional fee charged to cover the custodian’s time worked.
13. On occasions when no custodian is present, groups leaving after 9:00 pm must lock the building front doors when leaving. Township staff will instruct the user on the locking of the front doors.
14. In the event of a power failure or fire alarm, the building is to be evacuated immediately.
15. Rooms must be returned to the condition in which they were found.

Violations of policy may result in future use being denied and will cause deposit forfeiture.

It should be noted that the building contains government offices and all other use must not disrupt those purposes.