Party in the Park Friday

There is a Party in the Park Friday, July 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. to raise money for the renovation and improvement of Memorial Park. 

Over at the covered shelter there will be two-to-three grills running to cook hamburgers. There will also pulled pork, roasted corn, chips, bottled water and a root beer float station with ice cream donated by Dairy Twist. Then at the propane fire pits, attendees can roast marshmallows and make s’mores. 

The majority of the food is being donated, and the city is providing paper products. 

Dayna (Collins) Tully, a hometown favorite, will provide music. Tully is a Hill City High School graduate and now plays in a band in Las Vegas, Nev., with her husband. While in town enjoying the area and visiting family, Tully agreed to perform at the Party in the Park. For this, a stage will be brought in and set up near the creek and covered shelter. 

With food, music and yard games, the community is encouraged to come together to celebrate summer. 

This event was organized by Lori Comer, a member of the Hill City Park Board, and a committee of 12 volunteers. 

When dividing responsibilities for the park board, Comer chose to focus on fundraising. She then decided to put together a committee to help, asking “Who do I know who are good worker bees that I know I can count on?” 

The committee soon came together, and Comer said it is fun to sit around a table and watch everyone volunteer to help or donate things. 

“Hill City is a great town for volunteerism,” said Comer. When something is needed, help usually comes out of the woodwork. 

For the first fundraising event, the committee decided to keep things small with campfires and a concert centered around the children who will benefit from the Memorial Park renovations. As the poster says, the project is “building on the past for the future.” 

The money raised through the event will help with environmental studies to begin the groundwork at the park. Specifically, the park board is planning to do a FEMA study to address any drainage issues that need to be fixed. 

“We want to do it once. We want to do it right,” said Comer.

The new layout plan for Memorial Park was designed by architect Mark Jobman based on a list of things Hill City residents wanted according to a survey. Once the FEMA study is complete, Jobman plans to piece apart the Memorial Park improvements so individual projects can be completed as funding is available. He will also give an idea of how much each piece will cost. 

According to Comer, some things will stay. They simply need to be “spruced up.” The playground is one of these things. 

“It’s old, and it needs to be replaced. So we’re talking with a local lady who actually designs outdoor play equipment,” said Comer. 

Ultimately, this will be a multi-year project, and Comer said it is hard to say what will get done when. The board is being mindful of the expense by doing a little bit at a time. 

“We’re just kind of going as we can,” said Comer. “The more money we raise, the faster it will take place.”

For example, a business could sponsor a specific piece of the park or a covered shelter, and individuals could sponsor benches. 

“Eventually there will be opportunities for people to purchase a tree,” said Comer. For this project, people could pick a picture of a tree to sponsor. Then when it is time to plant, the trees will already be paid for. 

According to Comer, the fundraising committee has lots of other great ideas for the future including table tents with information so people or tourists can be a part of the process as well as a big event next year with an auction. 

“We’ve got some great ideas,” said Comer. “We’ve got some great volunteers that are just ready. I think it’s important for those of us who live here.” 

She wants Memorial Park to be a place for tourists to enjoy and let their children run off some energy, a place for people to have picnics and family events and a place the community can be proud of. 

While putting up posters for the Party in the Park, Comer was surprised by how many people do not know what is going on at Memorial Park, what the need is or what is going to happen. 

There will be a discussion time at the event to explain the vision as well as people who can answer questions about the project. 

“I hope we have a ton of people,” Comer said. Everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair and “a generous heart.” 

If anyone would like to volunteer to help with set up or tear down for the event they can contact Comer at 605-430-7009.