East Whiteland Parks Board Seeks Funding For Summer Concert Series

East Whiteland’s Parks and Recreation Board met on March 16 to discuss the future of the Summer Concert Series in light of a loss of funding for the 2011 season.

For the past several years, the Parks and Recreation Committee has received $15,000 from East Whiteland Township for the concert series—money that goes toward booking bands as well as other expenses. This year, funding for the concert series was cut completely due to township budgetary concerns, Public Works director Bill Steele said.

The committee is making efforts to solicit donations from local businesses that might be willing to fund part of the series, board member Bob Ricciardi said. Township resident David Walsh, in conjunction with Ricciardi, has created a list of 30 to 40 local businesses to contact for potential sponsorship.

Additionally, four potential concert dates have been chosen, so that bands can be contacted for booking and other plans can be made, provided that funding comes through, Ricciardi said. The tentative dates are July 9, July 21, Aug. 6 and Aug. 18.

Funding, though, is a real concern.

“If we want to draw people, we have to have [big] name bands,” board chairman Harry Timney said. “But in order to get [big] name bands, we need the money.”

"We need to get moving on this," board member Gail Keyes said.

Last year's concerts, all held at Valley Creek Park, included the Cool Beans Band, who performed music for children, Steppin' Razor, a reggae band, and a "family movie under the stars" night.

In an unrelated matter, Steele also noted that the township’s only soccer field—at Battle of the Clouds Park—will be out of commission in spring and possibly summer as well, in order to re-sod the field.