Park Board supports request for new event, Festival of Life

A new event planned for June 6-7 at McHardy Park gained the Brandon Park Advisory Board’s support at their Mrch 19 meeting.

Colby Meyer, a 2024 Brandon Valley High School graduate, shared that he and Kolby Johnson are organizing a two-night event at McHardy Park, The Festival of Life. 

“The Festival of Life is a proposal for a community event designed to give back to the community through various activities at our nightly event such as large giveaways, live music and a message of hope,” Meyer said.

The three-hour night event (6-9 p.m.) will be free.

“We do not have a specific target audience, as we would like everyone to come,” he said, adding they project a crowd of 200 to 500, or more.

Meyer said they’ll rely on volunteers to assist with parking and manage the crowd with a privately-hired security team. Parking would include the park, the soccer complex lots to the south and the ice rink ground to the east.

Their hope is to use the grassy area at the base of the McHardy Park Hill.

“We see this being an ideal place, as it’s a large, open space for large gatherings of people,” he said.

Meyer said the event will be funded through sponsorships and donations.

“We are looking for any necessary permits in order to make this event a success, as well as any possible assistance to make this event, overall, a great thing for the community,” he said.

Board member Randy Marso asked about food options.

Meyer said it’s an option that organizers are still talking through, “budget depending.”

“We’ve seen similar events done in cities like Camden, N.J., Philadelphia, some of those bigger cities, as well as Clarksburg, W.V., which is a little bit smaller. It’s about 15,000 people population. They’ve done something similar with no food, and it was very successful. We’re exploring options, so we’ll see if it’s something we can do,” he said.

City Park director Devin Coughlin said if food vendors are brought in, that would require city council approval, along with an active peddler’s permit with the city for each vendor.

The benefits of Arbor Day

As a designated “Tree City U.S.A.,” one of the requirements for that designation is recognition of Arbor Day. Because weather is not always ideal in April, Brandon has held their Arbor Day programs at various times of the year. 

This year, however, Arbor Day may just be celebrated on Arbor Day, and the exterior of the Brandon Valley Hockey Association’s new indoor rink may be the benefactor.

Tom Gruenig, president of the BVHA, asked the city for assistance in planting trees around the building.

Coughlin estimated six to eight trees could be planted, and asked if BVHA could supply volunteer help with the planting process.

Gruenig acknowledged the request, and said they have an in-kind commitment from a landscaper who will seed the ground in exchange for advertising at the rink. Gruenig estimates about a half-acre of land will be seeded.

Miles for Mutts

The Park Board also approved the request to stage a Miles for Mutts walk/run on Saturday, May 3 at Aspen Park. The longstanding event is organized by Jayme Smid, manager of Anytime Fitness in Brandon. Proceeds benefit B Squad Dog Rescue.

Park Tables & Signage options

Bar-height tables are coming to Aspen Park between fields A and B.

Coughlin told the Park Board how they are repurposing the old wooden light poles, which have been replaced on field B and part of field C. The poles have been cut into bar-height, and will receive countertops.

“Currently, we cut some plywood, stained it and sealed it. We’re trying to weathertight as best we can. We have our doubts that’s going to hold up for very long,” he said.

Coughlin said there is an option for metal tabletops, which would extend their use. It also presents an opportunity for fundraising. The city, however, is not sthe business of selling advertising. Coughlin said it could present an opportunity for a non-profit, such as the softball, hockey or baseball associations. He also suggested either the city logo or city parks and rec logo could be placed on each tabletop, which costs about $250 each.

“I just don’t want to get to the point where we now appear to be building structures for an association to sell and profit from advertising,” board chairman Jon Jacobson said.

“That’s why I don’t want to go down that road ‘if it gets too complicated we’ll scrap it.’ I was hoping that it could be a win for us and businesses in town, you know, local,” Coughlin answered.

The board opted to advertise the city or its Parks and Recreation department on the tabletops. 

The board meets next at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 in the City Council Chambers.