In a recently released report on the annual State Patty's Day festivities, the Borough of State College announced that it took in a revenue of somewhere between $15,000 and $41,000 during the fifth annual celebration, largely from parking garages and parking enforcement. The borough is reportedly using the data to prepare for future State Patty's Day events, with an overall goal to reduce crime and violence throughout the area.

State Patty's Day is an annual student celebration of St. Patrick's Day. The event was started five years ago by students from Pennsylvania State University upon the realization that St. Patrick's Day would take place over the college's spring break. Now, students from across Pennsylvania and nearby states make the trip to State College for the event.

The 2011 report was compiled using data from several different borough departments, in an effort to gauge the event's costs and potential areas of improvement. In sum, the report states that the borough took in a significant amount of revenue during the State Patty's Day weekend. Depending on the different analyses of parking revenue data, the borough made between $15,000 and $40,000 during the event.

Although it turned a profit, the borough stated in an accompanying news release that the event was "solely a dangerous drinking event that has become the most dangerous and destructive weekend of the year in State College."

Certainly, there was some bad behavior and disorderly conduct during the State Patty's Day weekend, with 288 people arrested for DUI and other offenses, about 100 people taken to the hospital for alcohol-related medical issues, and a significant amount of property damage to public and private property throughout the weekend. However, it seems that the borough would be best served by working with students and other event participants to develop and implement a safety plan, rather than characterizing State Patty's Day as "dangerous and destructive."

Source: Centre Daily Times, "Report: State Patty's Day bolsters borough coffers," Jessica VanderKolk, 1 July 2011