CHAPEL HILL — Early rain, cold weather and the town's crowd-control efforts cut the estimated number of Franklin Street revelers to 27,000 this Halloween, police reported.

This was the fourth year the town closed roads leading downtown under "Homegrown Halloween," a program designed to keep the celebration local after mounting concern about arrests and injuries.

The town has reduced crowds by more than half, from about 80,000 people in 2007 to about 35,000 in 2010, according to police.

There were an estimated 316 officers in the downtown area Monday night. Police made three arrests: for assault on a law enforcement officer, indecent exposure and being drunk and disruptive.

The streets were cleared of people at 12:10 a.m. and opened to traffic around 12:45 a.m., after being cleaned by town crews.

Orange County Emergency Medical Services responded to nine calls, and three people weretaken to UNC Hospitals. Seven of the nine calls were related to alcohol intoxication, police said.

mschultz@newsobserver.com or 919-932-2003