July 3, 2008 in Voices

Concerts, movies planned in Sutton Park

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CHENEY – Since 1990, the city has been holding free concerts in Sutton Park – evenings of music, friendship and enjoying summer weather.

Starting Wednesday, the concerts will start again, filling the neighborhood with music.

“It’s definitely a family atmosphere,” said Paul Simmons, the director of Parks and Recreation. “Groups come and host events, reserve the picnic area and a lot of families will bring their own food.”

Simmons said the concert series have been so popular in Cheney that when the parks department was shut down a few years ago, someone else stepped in and arranged for the music events.

The concerts are held every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Simmons said that up until this year the concerts were from 6 to 7:30 p.m., but he noticed that many of the families and other concert-goers weren’t making it to the park until 6:30. He also received several requests from people in the community to change the time. This way, folks have time to get home from work, get a bite to eat, pack up their blankets and chairs and not miss any of the show.

He said that the concerts are funded from people and groups throughout the area and that people can always donate money for the concerts any time. Every year before the concert series, the Parks Department sends out a letter to businesses and other donors to generate funds.

Along with the Wednesday concerts , the Parks Department will show movies on Fridays this summer, July 25, Aug. 8 and 22 starting at dusk.

Simmons said the licensing fees to show movies can run anywhere from $100 to $500, and new releases can be even more. That’s why he tries to keep the movies in the $200 range.

The concerts feature different kinds of music that Simmons said appeals to all groups of people in Cheney. He said families, senior groups, patients at the care center and more all come and watch the shows.

Country-western musician Rodeo Roger is Simmons’ father; the Honeybuckets are always well received in Cheney. Six Foot Swing perform jazz, swing and jump blues from the ‘20s through the ‘40s and The Bobby Wayne Show is a tribute to Johnny Cash.

Simmons said he enjoys the community atmosphere that the concerts generate.

“I like to go around and talk to people,” he said. “It’s fun to bring people together and it’s fun to provide a free activity.”

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