Band Blast may be fizzling out in New Kensington
A long-running event that has brought music and money to New Kensington’s Memorial Park may have come to its end.
As they have for more than a decade, 11 bands donated their time to play half-hour sets on the park’s stage Sunday afternoon for Band Blast.
But a lack of volunteers from New Kensington to staff the event benefiting their own park meant calling in help from residents of Arnold.
And a notable number of people turned their cars around before crossing the one-lane bridge over Little Pucketa Creek that’s the entrance to Memorial Park, balking at paying $5 for eight hours of live music — the price it’s always been, and money that goes to the city for park maintenance and improvements.
A sparse crowd was spread out under the shade provided by the park’s tall trees on a sunny, late-summer day with a comforting breeze. A few food vendors were nearby. The ax throwing business Las Hachas was there for a time with a mobile trailer.
Last year, Dan Galie and Lou Downard, members of New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park, said they were looking for others to carry on Band Blast and its sister event, Rockin’ Roosevelt, which benefits Arnold’s Roosevelt Park and was held June 1.
While Arnold and its recreation committee have committed to keeping Rockin’ Roosevelt going, with next year’s event scheduled for June 7, the same can’t be said for Band Blast.
“This might be the last one. I hate to say it,” Galie said. “This may end. We’re hoping it doesn’t.”
A half-dozen people are needed, one day a year, to keep the event going, Galie said.
Mother and daughter Lori Hernandez and Jessie Hernandez-Briggs, from Arnold, were at the bridge collecting entrance fees from those willing to pay. Mario Tempest, also of Arnold, was helping Galie.
Tempest has been part of Social in the Park since its beginning in 2011 as a way to get people off social media and together in the real world. Whether Band Blast will continue is “iffy,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we’re treating this like the last one,” he said.
“No one wants to take the reins,” he said. “Our volunteers have been dropping like flies over the years.”
When New Kensington’s recreation commission was approached about taking over the event, city Councilman Tim DiMaio said the commission either turned them down or gave no answer.
The city should take over the event because it helps the park, DiMaio said.
After last year’s Band Blast, some of the volunteers met with the city’s recreation commission to see how they could help, Mayor Tom Guzzo said.
“I’m sure that they will meet again following today’s Band Blast to see how we can help with volunteers moving forward and keep it going,” he said.
The light turnout was also hard to explain. It was promoted on social media and on the marquee near the park entrance along Route 366 — a sign paid for with proceeds from Band Blast.
“We promote the hell out of it,” Tempest said. “I don’t know how much more you can do.”
Tempest said they schedule Band Blast so it does not compete with the start of the Steelers football season.
And while good weather would seem to be helpful, it can actually be bad, he said.
“The honey-do list gets big this time of year,” Tempest said.
Tempest said it’s been about five years since he’s seen a good-size crowd for Band Blast. And while they have aimed to raise $5,000 for the park, Galie said it’s been closer to $2,000 to $3,000.
Still, Galie found something positive.
“The people who showed up enjoyed themselves,” he said.
Those interested in helping to keep Band Blast going can contact Galie at danaconda1661@gmail.com.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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