Party in the Park slow kickoff, but lots of potential

The Clarksville Department of Parks and Recreation seeking to provide more activities for children in their late teens, kicked off a Party in the Park Friday evening. The inaugural event started off slow but by the end of the evening the kids were playing volleyball, dancing, lip syncing, and having fun socializing with other young people their age.

The way down to Billy Dunlop Park was guarded by the Clarksville Police Department and Parks and Recreation staff. Upon arriving at the Park I noticed half a dozen young people, several Parks and Rec staff, and two more police officers keeping an ever watchful eye on things. The second thing I noticed was the extreme heat. It had to be close to 100 degrees with no breeze to cool things off in the bottom land where the park is located.

Shortly after I arrived some young people challenged Parks and Rec staff including its Director Mark Tummons to a volley ball game. The game started off with 5 people in total but by the time it finished that number had more than doubled.

Towards the end of the volley ball game the a cool breeze started blowing, and it felt really good. We noticed that the sky turned threatening and looked like we were in for a downpour, but it passed on by.

After the volley ball game was finished it was time for things to move things under the pavilion where Scott Chase from 5 Star Radio was serving as a DJ/Emcee for the evening. As with any dance the kids needed someone to break the ice, but once that happened we were treated to everything from slow dancing to line dancing. Towards the end of the evening a Lip syncing contest was held. Three teams competed to see who could lip sync the best while putting on an entertaining show for the attendees. The prize was four tickets to the water park.

First up were a trio of young girls who we will call the Diva’s. They performed a hip-hop/R&B number, though I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the song.

Next up was a duo with Parks and Rec’s Tonya Vaden who had been pressed into service by one of the teenage girls to sing the part of Sandy in the song Summer Lovin from the hit musical Grease. It was a hoot! I gave them top score for their performance.

For the last number a solo teenage girl lip syncing to Billy Joel’s Piano Man. I gave her the highest rating for her ability to lip sync.

I wasn’t one of the judges, but it had to be a tough call. The Diva’s took the prize! I think Tonya’s team may have been penalized a bit since she was Parks and Rec Staff.

After a bit more dancing and a group photo it was time to head home for the evening.

Overall, everyone had fun, and I think this will become a very popular event especially as more teens find out about it. Being that the next one is going to be a Pool Party held at one of the City Swimming pools, I think they won’t have too big of a problem in that regard.

I am looking forward to it!

Photo Gallery

To view more photos from Party in the Park visit our Photo  Gallery at:

http://www.discoverclarksville.com/photogallery/events/2010/party-in-the-park/