Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gadsden renames Riverside Park, touts successful events and upcoming concerts as city shifts event sites
Summary
Mayor Craig Ford highlighted the city's renamed Riverside Park and recent successful events — Tacos and Tequila drew about 2,000 people, the Barbarian Challenge grew by roughly 300 participants, and two new turf fields at Gadsden State are in use. He also announced a Taylor Swift tribute concert in July with $10 tickets and limited capacity.
Mayor Craig Ford said the city has renamed the former ice-rink site Riverside Park and described a series of events and facility improvements the city plans to use for future programming.
Ford said a recent Tacos and Tequila event drew about 2,000 people after Parks and Recreation staff traveled to Chattanooga to scout ideas. "We had 2,000 people. I mean, it was phenomenal," he said. The mayor credited the band Paris and food and beverage vendors for the turnout.
He also said the Barbarian Challenge increased participation by about 300 people compared with last year, and that roughly 80 to 90 city employees volunteered to help staff that event and were given comp time. Parks programming now includes adult softball and coed leagues and a kickball team made up of city employees; Ford said they have 15 teams in the recreational leagues and are using two newly opened turf fields at Gadsden State.
Ford announced a change in use for West Meagan Boulevard: "No more events will be held on West Meagan Boulevard. So we're about to announce something that you'll love to hear. We're gonna have a new vision for that facility and that site over there, and we'll be announcing that soon," he said.
Separately, Ford promoted a Taylor Swift tribute concert scheduled for July at 7 p.m., with $10 tickets available through the City of Gadsden website; he said the fire marshal has limited capacity and advised residents to buy tickets early. He compared ticket pricing to a prior Prince tribute event and said the city-priced concert was far cheaper than a comparable show in Birmingham.
Ford thanked staff and volunteers for their work on events and said the city will continue to use parks and the Gadsden State complex for community programming.
