By Kenzie Kibler ‘28
According to LNP, Long’s Park was dedicated as a local park in 1900, in Catherine Long’s will, respecting her father. The 80-acre land was soon turned into a park as an opportunity for the community to have a place to enjoy nature. However, the park didn’t gain much popularity until the pavilion was introduced in 1913, which also helped raise money by hosting events. Long’s Park then hosted the Sertoma Club’s annual chicken barbecue event to raise money for the park, which gets more and more popular by the year. Explained on the Long’s Park Amphitheatre website, the money originally raised by the barbecue event helped kickstart the Summer Music Series, hosting free concerts every summer weekend for the community to enjoy with a range of musical acts.
In recent years, the park has evolved into much more. Now with many tennis courts and playgrounds, it is a place for the community to interact with each other. There is also now a petting farm within the park, offering a way to interact with animals for all ages. Also with many pavilions, the park offers a way for clubs and organizations to host events to connect with the community.
The Long’s Park Amphitheater Foundation started in 1962, meaning the summertime concert festival has been serving the community for sixty-four years.
