Mangled Niles Teen Center tents were pushed to bike racks just outside Golf Mill Park by Saturday’s intense storm. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

A fast-moving storm hit Golf Mill Park just after the start of Niles’ Founders Day festivities at about 5 p.m. Saturday. Just before heavy winds and hail struck the area, police ordered the park evacuated, and the event was later canceled. 

Vendors, a few guests, and village staff went to the nearby JCPenney Store in Golf Mill Shopping Center until the storm passed. Niles Police Chief Joe Romano and his two deputy chiefs were at the scene before, during and after the storm.

Deputy Niles Police Chief Mike Boba (center) confers with Police Chief Joe Romano (in black SUV left) and Deputy Police Chief Thomas Fragassi (in black SUV right) as skies blacken behind him, heralding Saturday’s coming storm. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

The storm, which lasted for approximately 20 minutes, and its aftermath saw mangled tents tossed around like toys, and at least one tree fully uprooted, at least 10 feet from a hole where it once stood.

After the storm passed, village staff quickly sprang into action clearing debris. Acting Village Manager Katie Schneider told Journal reporters at the event that more strong storms were inbound toward Golf Mill Park and said with the cleanup, the event was canceled. 

Trees are seen bending in the wind during the most intense part of Saturday’s storm at Golf Mill Park. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

The storm did not cause any injuries, although reporters overheard village staff saying that horses brought in for the event, safely in a trailer, were “freaked out” by the storm.

A tree was completely uprooted by intense fast fast-moving storms on Saturday near Golf Mill Park. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

“It’s unfortunate that the weather didn’t cooperate, but thank God staff was able to clear the area ahead of time, predicting the hail and winds about to come through so everyone could evacuate to JCPenney,” Niles Mayor George Alpogianis told reporters by phone. He said he was heading to Golf Mill Park when the storm hit.

Acting Village Manager Katie Schneider (left) clears Founders Day debris in Golf Mill Park Saturday after an intense heave storm. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

Alpogianis praised the quick work of “staff and department heads who jumped in to clear the area after the storm.” Reporters even saw retired Niles Fire Chief Marty Feld carrying wet sandbags after the storm.          

Saturday was to be the first Founders Day, and was a follow-up to last year’s 125th anniversary of the village’s founding.

Niles police officer John Gaba (center front) and Deputy Niles Police Chief Thomas Fragassi (rear right) carry mangled tent poles out of the Founders Day grounds at Golf Mill Park Saturday after an intense fast-moving storm cancelled the event. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

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