There's nothing wrong with folks getting together for a few beers after work.

Unless it's in Bandshell Park.

Then, there's everything wrong with it.

One thing: It's a public park, and the city shouldn't be in the business of abetting drinking, even if it's a pleasant event like a Friday after-work get-together sponsored by the Jaycees for the men and women who work downtown. Even if it's only from 5 to 7 p.m. Even if it's only a few Fridays in the summer.

Another thing: It's the wrong park. Even if it's city policy to aid and abet beer drinkers on public land, this is not the land to do it on. Bandshell Park is a small, neighborhood park, used mainly by nearby families and their children. Roping off a part of it for a private party where beer is sold is a bad idea.

A third thing: It's the wrong time. For more than a year, the neighbors and the city have been talking about a way to make Bandshell an alcohol-free park, a way to rid it of the occasional derelict sitting around half the day drinking wine, the occasional bum sitting around half the night drinking beer. Let those discussions continue before experimenting with exceptions to the rule.

No, this is the wrong event, at the wrong park, at the wrong time.

The Parks and Recreation Commission should reject the proposal Thursday night.

Reject the proposal, but not the idea.

For the idea of Friday night get-togethers is a good one, and the Jaycees are nice to take it on. Nice - and good-hearted. They not only would provide a place for young business people to mingle after the week's work, they also would raise some money for the many good deeds the Jaycees undertake.

But isn't there a better place?

A place that isn't a park, that doesn't have kids on swings, that doesn't have families just across the street?

How about the parking lot at the old depot?

How about the parking lot behind Main Street? Or maybe just a part of that, the part between Duff Avenue and Douglas Avenue?

How about the parking lot just east of City Hall - the lot that many people think should be a central plaza for downtown?

That City Hall lot seems like an especially good place. Let's test it out as a meeting place and plaza and focal point to see if it works. If it does, then let's start the downtown revitalization process by building that plaza that some Iowa State University designers, some city officials and those Minnesota consultants all think is a good idea.

Why not?

And if the Jaycees think they need to sell beer to attract a crowd, let the city wrestle with that question.

But let it wrestle with it away from the parks.

Away from the neighbors.

Away from the children.