Really?
We spent a week there this past summer. Stayed right in that area for 5 nights.
Never did myself, my wife, or our middle school aged kids feel unsafe.
Was there a concert in the park the night of this news story? Who was playing? When we went there was some band playing (no idea who it was), but police were only letting 21+ into the "concert area". Listening to the music as we walked by, I don't think anyone under 65 would be lining up to get in...
I grew up rural NE. The county fair beer garden was where the fun was. If we had the numbers, we'd have definitely bumrushed the 2 county deputies on duty. Except our neighbor, uncle, teacher, pastor, etc was in the crowd. No "blending in" in small towns once you break the security line.
Except for that one time my friends and I went to a street dance like 75 miles from our town. We walk in (19-20 yo) with coolers like we own the place. I happen to see my mom's friend, drunk of her keister, and she goes on and on about how she can't believe I'm already 21. Meanwhile, me and her husband who actually see the police working security try to direct her attention to anything else!