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As 'Made in America' Festival Packs Up, Nearby Residents Give Thumbs Up

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Benjamin Franklin Parkway has reopened after being shut down for nearly a week to host the "Made in America" music festival.

The two-day concert got raves from critics, and it's even getting fair reviews from neighbors, who last year complained about the noisy sound checks, the litter, and the damage to the parkway's serene landscape.

Today, crews of cleaners used leaf blowers to round up the debris along the parkway as laborers took apart the four performance stages.

The heavy equipment left muddy prints in what had been grassy areas, but resident Alex Urevickacklesberg says he isn't concerned.

"They did it last year, too, and they came in and replanted it and it all looked fine," he recalls.

The city took steps this year to address the concerns neighbors had after last year's event.   Fairmount Civic Association president Bruce Butler says parking was easier and sound checks were tamed, but he doesn't know yet if there are new complaints.

"I'll wait and see what the neighborhood brings in at our next meeting," he said today.

Urevickacklesberg took issue with closed sidewalks and blocked bus stops, but says that's part of living in Fairmount.

"We're used to big events happening here, from marathons to Fourth of July -- which is much bigger, much more disruptive to the neighborhood," he tells KYW Newsradio.

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