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Taneytown parks staff report event revenues and brainstorm 250th celebration plans, fireworks options
Summary
Parks staff reported a positive result for the Wine Art and Music Festival, upcoming family events and movie nights; the board discussed how to approach the 250th-anniversary July 4 plans, including fireworks, drone/laser alternatives and a possible multi-day celebration with a 5K run and parade.
Taneytown Parks staff reported results from summer events and discussed early planning ideas for the town's 250th-anniversary celebrations during the July 16 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting.
Staff reported the final Wine Art and Music Festival accounts showed a $2,246.51 surplus and that the event did not require using its $5,000 contingency. Staff listed upcoming programs: three remaining "Yoga in the Park" sessions, youth and adult tennis clinics (the adult clinic fee is $75), a free Hapkido camp (registration required), ongoing family movie nights and the Family Fun Food Truck event scheduled for Friday the 18th at Memorial Park.
Movie nights have required last-minute location changes due to storms: two recent showings were moved to Grace United Church of Christ community room because of weather.
The board held an extended discussion about the Independence Day event and planning for the country's 250th anniversary next year. Staff estimated about 1,500 people attended this year's July 4 celebration and reported the team's discussion with the lead fireworks technician that a fireworks launch could be operated from the expansion-area parking lot while meeting safety clearances. The technician told staff that launching from the parking lot would be acceptable if the multipurpose building is unoccupied and a 350-foot safety radius is maintained.
Board members discussed alternatives and costs. Staff said drone shows and laser shows had been priced and found to be substantially more expensive; the transcript cited drone packages and laser proposals that far exceeded the department's budget. Ideas raised by board members included holding fireworks on Friday night and a parade on Saturday, or expanding the celebration into a multi-day weekend with concerts, food trucks and a parade. Several board members proposed adding a morning 5K or fun run that would feed into daytime parade activities; staff asked board member Mackenzie to develop a proposed route and report back.
Staff and the director of economic development were reported to be coordinating with council to explore broader collaboration and potential funding for next year's celebrations.
Upcoming event details cited by staff: Family Fun Food Truck (vendors listed in meeting), Harvest Festival on Sept. 27 (eight food vendors confirmed), and a summer scavenger hunt that runs in rounds through early September. For the family movie showing that week, staff said the first 25 attendees would receive a coupon for a free snow cone from Purple Polar Bear if the event can be staged in the park.
