Park board planning Party in the Park

The February cold Tuesday didn’t prevent the Creston Parks and Recreation Board for continuing preparations for Party in the Park scheduled July 2.

Highlighting the event is a concert by Molly Hatchet, an established rock band. According to their website, “In the early 1970s, a new form of music was emerging in the South. A mixture of blues, country, gospel and the English invasion of rock and roll that later was to be coined the phrase ‘Southern Rock.’ The music was filled with style and emotion and with bands in the forefront such as the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a band from Jacksonville, Florida called Molly Hatchet. Named after a famous 17th-century axe murderess “hatchet molly” who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous.

Their self-titled debut album was released on Epic records in 1978 and reached multi-platinum status as the band established their reputation of working hard, playing tough and living fast through intense touring with such bands as Aerosmith, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones and many more. In 1979, ‘Flirtin’ With Disaster’ was released and history was in the making.”

The board reviewed cost estimates for sound and lighting equipment for the concert. Iowa Sound’s bid of $5,700, and additional equipment from Gigday Backline, total about $8,000.

“We are not going to start out ahead of this,” said board member John Kawa about the show’s finances. “We are going after something.”

In other park and recreation board news:

The board discussed grant applications for building a proposed pickleball court. Cost for the court is estimated at $11,000. PIckleball is a game that combines tennis, badminton and table tennis. The court is similar to a badminton court and uses a net similar with tennis. Participants use paddles and a plastic ball with holes, called a Wiffle ball. Games can be played either one-on-one or doubles.

The Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center has a pickleball league.

Board member John Kawa said a meeting with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been scheduled for Feb. 28 about planning the dredging of McKinley Lake. Last fall, Creston voters approved financing to dredge the lake to improve fish habitat and the lake itself.

Kawa said Creston is rare in having financial support for a lake restoration project knowing other towns also have plans, but not the financial backing.

Board members approved the contract with Waters Edge Design for the renovation of the McKinley Park pool.