MADISON, Wis. -- On Tuesday, Madison's mayor announced significant changes in the way the city will handle the annual Halloween party on State Street.

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Flanked by police, business, student and University of Wisconsin leaders, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz unveiled a plan to gate off State Street with plastic fences and to charge partygoers a $5 admission to get in.

Cieslewicz estimated that the admission fees will raise $200,000, which is about one-third of the event's total cost.

Ticket booths will be placed at either end of State Street, and private security will work the fences and road barricades.

Several music stages and concession stands will also be part of the celebration.

The new plan is aimed at heading off rioting, injuries and property damage that have marred the celebration in years past.

"I want to be clear about this, and I want to be realistic about this. I'm not here to tell you this is the last thing we're going to need to do, and that this is going to solve all of our problems related to Halloween -- not at all," Cieslewicz said. "But I think this is another major step in the right direction."

The crowds will be capped at 50,000 and the gates will close at about 12 a.m., prohibiting more people from entering the event.

"The benefit of having a gated event and charging, as I mentioned before, is having a better managed, better behaving crowd," said Noble Wray, chief of the Madison Police Department.

UW-Madison student Jeff Nelson, a member of the Interfraternity Council, said he hopes the changes will make for a better celebration.

"We don't want it ending in the riots. We don't want it ending in the pepper spray. That's not fun for us," Nelson said.

Susan Schmitz, president of Downtown Madison Inc., said this is an opportunity for the city to reclaim control of the event.

"It's time for us to take it back," Schmitz said. "We are re-branding this event. This is Madison's event, and we don't want anybody turning this the wrong way."

Downtown Alderman Mike Verveer said he is optimistic about the plan.

"I think the plan that's being announced this afternoon is going to be a large turning point. I'm very optimistic. I don't want to say there won't be any controversy with this. After all, of course we all live in Madison -- controversy is part of our nature," Verveer said.