By: Lydia Crawley, The Parsons Advocate
The Parsons Revitalization Organization or PRO on TRAC approached the City of Parsons Council July 15th about collaborating on a series of concerts in the park this summer. PRO member Debbie Stevens was the first to speak at the meeting.
“We used to get out and sweep the streets with a shovel before the City had a street sweeper,” Stevens said. “We washed the windows of the buildings before they had tenants. We love this town and we want everybody to know that.”
Executive Director Cyndi Kolsun proposed the idea of a series of concerts in the park for the citizens of Parsons. Kolsun said the median age of Parsons residents is 42-47 years old, according to studies. Less than a quarter of Parsons residents are under the age of 18, according to Kolsun, with 75% of residents over the age of 45.
“We love this town and we want everybody to know that.” Stevens said.
“And while we have numerous activities for our youth, we’re lacking in activities for the adults that are in our community,” Kolsun said.
Kolsun said the Music in the Park event that was held by the City in the past was an event that the entire family could participate in. Families could bring their children and the adults could participate in, as well. Kolsun said that the organization understood that financial reasons were at the heart of why the activity did not continue this year.
“PRO on TRAC was thinking of what we could do to provide something for our citizens,” Kolsun said.
Kolsun said the organization wanted to partner with the City to provide music events in the park this summer and proposed supporting matching funds up to $2,000 towards events in the park.
“So we would be willing to work with you and assist you with matching funds to have something in the park,” Kolsun said.
Kolsun said she has already contacted Michael Bonnett and River’s Edge about performing in Parsons. Kolsun said the group always enjoyed performing in Parsons and agreed to perform this summer. There was a discussion between PRO on TRAC and the Council regarding the price of the performance with the Council stating that they were quoted a vastly higher amount than PRO on TRAC were given by the musical group.
“If you do not want to share expenses, PRO on TRAC would be willing to pay for Michael Bonnett outright so we would have at least one concert this summer,” Kolsun said.
Should that option be utilized, PRO on TRAC would request use of Mill Race Park for the event and advertise the event. However, Kolsun said that the organization preferred to work with the City to provide a series of events for the public co-sponsored by the City and PRO on TRAC.
Kolsun said that there is a lot of talent right in Parsons that could also be showcased at the events.
“There are other local groups that are extremely talented that we would be able to get and they would probably be willing to share their talents with us because we forget all the talent we have right here in the City,” Kolsun said.
The matter was referred to the Parks and Recreation Board for consideration. Council Member Tim Turner said that the matter of whether the City would co-sponsor or PRO on TRAC would sponsor a solo concert would have to go through the Parks Board solely.
However, time is running out on the matter. The Park Board just had their July meeting the day before the Council meeting and will not have a meeting again until the second Monday in August, according to Turner. PRO on TRAC are expected to present their proposal to the Park Board at their August meeting. Turner said that the organization did not need to be present because the Board would know about the matter.
Stevens recounted a little of the organization’s history at the meeting, as well. PRO was established August 2, 2001. Of the original members, Stevens is the only remaining original member. All the others have either moved on or passed on, according to Stevens.
Stevens said when Dorothy Judy was Mayor of Parsons, PRO was approached by Judy and the proposition was made to coordinate with the City. Since the organization was a 501c3, non government, it was eligible for monies that the City was not. Stevens said that under the agreement with the City, the name PRO on TRAC means the organization works with the City.
“She said, would you accept the On TRAC position under the City and work because we do a lot of the same things and we talked about it and we accepted that,” Stevens said.
Mayor Bruce Kolsun thanked the organization for attending the meeting and presenting to the Council and said the Council looked forward to a productive relationship moving forward.
