Perry graduate says he’s barred from hosting alumni events after park damage dispute

The City of Perry says vehicles parked on grass, early setup and trash cleanup violations led to its decision.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Perry High School graduate says he’s been prohibited from hosting alumni gatherings on city property after the City of Perry cited rule violations and damage following an alumni tailgate at Heritage Oaks Park.

The decision has sparked confusion and frustration among some Perry High School alumni online, where the issue first gained attention on Facebook.

Kirenski Wilkerson, a 2011 Perry High School graduate, says he organized the unofficial alumni tailgate after seeing the idea shared on social media. He says he emailed the City with a proposal, and the event was approved the following day.

Wilkerson says alumni ranging from the 1970s through 2022 attended, and each class contributed money to cover required costs, including police officers and portable restrooms. He says alumni cleaned their areas after the event and that he helped load trash into a dump truck. He later received an email from the City with photos showing grass and soil damage.

Wilkerson acknowledges some damage occurred but believes it could have been addressed through communication moving forward.

“I will admit as an organizer, yes, there were damages,” Wilkerson said. “But these things can be worked on in the future. We can put things in place and move on.”

Wilkerson says he emailed city leaders several times requesting an in-person meeting but did not receive one. Instead, he says he was notified that he and any event connected to the alumni tailgate are prohibited from holding similar gatherings on any city property.

“I literally got an email that said thanks for the payment, you guys are prohibited, me as an individual, and anything related to this type of event,” he said.

Wilkerson says he feels the city’s decision was discriminatory.

41NBC requested an interview with the City of Perry. Officials declined an on-camera interview but provided the following statement, which they say reflects all verified information related to the incident:

“The City of Perry is committed to protecting our parks and ensuring they remain clean, safe, and enjoyable for all residents. Following the recent Perry High School Alumni Tailgating Event at Heritage Oaks Park, City staff documented significant violations of the rental agreement and damage to City property.

Attendees began setting up several hours before the approved rental period. Vehicles were parked throughout the lawn, prohibited by park rules by the posted sign on the property, resulting in damage to turf, landscaping, and irrigation lines. Large amounts of trash, including glass bottles, were left onsite, requiring staff to respond overtime for cleanup. Tents and tables were also left overnight in violation of posted park rules.

All rental groups are held to the same standards. Decisions are based solely on compliance with park rules, the impact on City property, and the resources required to address violations.

Heritage Oaks Park is a significant community investment, and the City must preserve it for equitable, long-term public use. Based on the extent of the violations and damage, the group will not be approved to host this event at the park next year.”

Wilkerson says the park holds significance for many alumni who gathered for the event. He says he hopes the city will eventually reconsider.