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Tribute band concert may be added to 4th of July activities
The Fourth of July extravaganza may not be over when the smoke settles on annual fireworks display this year.
Plans are in the works, the Park Board learned Wednesday night, for a Bon Jovi tribute band concert to begin in the bandshell as soon as the bombs are done bursting in air.
The Park Board gave Director Greg Ruark authority to pursue booking the band and finalizing all details and contingencies, including securing a noise ordinance waiver for the 90-minute show expected to begin about 10:30 p.m. after the fireworks.
“Why not before?” asked Stacie Langdon, City Council liaison to the Park Department.
The band has a major light show that coincides with its performance and would need dark skies to be effective, explained Ruark, who was contacted by the group during a recent state parks and recreation convention at Indianapolis. “They said without that, the show just loses something.”
When Ruark found out the group was available for the Fourth of July, he brought the idea to the Park Board. He said he has already checked with Friends of the Park and funding is available through the group that oversees Celebration 4.
That’s not the only new idea planned for the holiday. Ruark added that he has also been in contact with a car club interested in doing a car show at Robe-Ann Park that might even include a parade of the vintage vehicles through town prior to their arrival at the park.
With the 5K Rokicki Run, Kids’ Fun Run and the annual pancake breakfast fundraiser all taking place in the morning and the fireworks at night, Ruark said he was looking for activities to fill the afternoon lull.
In other business, the Park Board:
-- Heard Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger report that the SPARK program will return this summer. She said she is ready to hire a director and is looking for leaders for the summer program, which will be caped at 200 participants.
-- Learned that longtime DePauw University swim coach Mary Bretscher will be helping with learn-to-swim classes this summer, which will have two morning sessions in June and an evening session in July.
-- Learned that the annual Easter egg hunt will be Saturday, April 8 at 10 a.m., while the Dr. Seuss birthday party will be March 2 at Robe-Ann Park.
-- Heard Ruark report that Phase II of the Robe-Ann Park renovation will have a similar timetable to Phase I, beginning in September, although restroom renovations will occur earlier.
-- Heard Ruark note that preliminary discussions with the consulting firm PATHOM have produced interesting comments and ideas. One of the first things mentioned was the need to make Jaycee Park facilities handicap accessible and renovation of the building there to be usable to provide both indoor and outdoor activity.
-- Heard Ruark note that another PATHOM suggestion is the creation of a snow hill at Big Walnut Sports Park to give youngsters a safe place to sled. The southeast corner of the park was suggested. Putting in switchbacks could also make the hill into a fitness trail for use throughout the year.
-- Heard Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger report that youth basketball will have its first games on Saturday. There are six teams of fourth- to sixth-graders this year.
-- Gave Julie Carr permission to use a portion of the People Pathways trail between Deer Meadow School and Albin Pond Road for the annual Kinetic Change 5K run at 5 p.m. June 10.
-- Approved use of the Babe Ruth field and back softball field at Big Walnut Sports Park by the new Greencastle Middle School baseball and softball programs getting under way this spring.
-- Gave the Youth Baseball and Softball leagues permission to close a portion of the park to parking so people can safely walk between fields for the April 8 grand opening event at Big Walnut Sports Park. The roadway will be barricaded to restrict access from the east end as long as April 8 is not the opening day of soccer as well.
-- Agreed to the same slate of officers for 2023 as presided in 2022 with Cathy Merrell president, Tim Trigg vice president and Joanna Muncie secretary.
Doug Hutchison joined Merrell, Trigg and Muncie for the February meeting. The March session of the Park Board is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 at the park office in Robe-Ann Park.