*NEW* This year's Taylorville Park District Christmas in the Park event will still be held, despite severe damage done to Manners Park by recent severe weather.
Members of the Taylorville Park Board held an emergency meeting Monday to discuss damage done to Manners Park by last week's winter storm, as well as what to do about the opening weekend of the annual Christmas in the Park event, or even if it should be held, as a result. Park Operations and Finance Director Lea Hines says the park got hit pretty hard by the ice storm, knocking down several power lines and trees and leaving the park without electricity, also damaging many sets of Christmas lights that had already been put up.
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The costs incurred by the damage threatened the event itself, with suggestions to either cancel the event or hold it regardless of the damage, but start at a later date. The general consensus was to try and find local volunteers to help clean up the park and to start the event a week later than expected. The event was originally set for this Friday, and will now open next Friday, December 15th.
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It will cost an estimated $4,000 in overtime to complete cleanup work. Trustee Spresser recommended submitting the costs to the state, in the hopes that the Park District could be reimbursed due to the City of Taylorville and Christian County's recent declaration of a local disaster area.
Damage done to Lake Shore Golf Course, according to Hines, has caused her to declare it closed until further notice. Power should be restored to Manners Park by the end of the day today.
Schedule of Events (note this will change with the delayed opening of Christmas in the park)
Christmas in the Park will
officially open on December 8, 2006 at 5:00pm and runs thru
December 25, 2006. The Taylorville Park District will
extend the dates for viewing of displays depending on
whether the weather is on their side.
The Christmas in the Park
Opening Night Celebration will be held at the Manners Park
Dining Hall December 8, 2006 between 5pm and 7pm. Park
District board members and staff members will host the
event, serving hot chocolate and apple cider with cookies
and other goodies.
