Gala hopes to get project 'Rollin''

Organizers of the upcoming Fort Scott Community Gala are preparing for this year's event, which is designed to benefit a major local revitalization project.

The gala, with a theme of "Rollin' on the River," is scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the River Room, 3 W. Oak St. Proceeds from this year's gala will be used to help fund a master plan for the Riverfront Park and Trails project along a section of the Marmaton River.

"I think it's unique for a town our size to have something of this magnitude," Community Gala co-chairman Ken Lunt said. "The money stays in Fort Scott and helps the community."

Decorations and entertainment throughout the evening will bring to life the role rivers have played throughout the country's history, organizers said.

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception followed by a pre-show and dinner. The band, KC Prime, will begin performing at 8 p.m. Guests will enjoy first class dining prepared by Executive Chef Vincent Waide and staff of the Buffalo Grill. Music and dancing will take place between 8:30 and 11:30 p.m.

The Fort Scott Community Gala Committee, formerly a steering committee for the Mercy Health Center gala, is planning and organizing the event, which has been a tradition in Fort Scott for nearly 20 years. All of the gala events are designed to benefit worthwhile community projects. Proceeds from future galas will go toward various non-profit organizations in the community.

"We want to develop a process where other organizations can benefit from the gala," Community Gala co-chairwoman Carla Farmer said. "It's our tool for doing good in the community."

In 2007, the Fort Scott and Bourbon County Riverfront Authority was formed to revitalize and promote preservation, protection and interpretation of the Marmaton River for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations of visitors and citizens of Fort Scott, Bourbon County and other parts of Kansas.

The entire process is expected to take about five years, but much has already been accomplished. Loads of trash, old tires and bundles of brush have been removed from the proposed riverfront area. Some of the property along the river has been donated to the Riverfront Authority and some has been purchased. When completed, the Riverfront Park will include about 60 acres along the river starting at National Avenue, with trails going east toward the Old Military Bridge and west to Gunn Park.

The new park will include a fishing lake, hiking, biking and equestrian trails, picnic areas with restroom facilities and playground equipment, botanical identification of plants, historical panels portraying the use of the area by Native Americans and early settlers, and overnight parking for recreational vehicles and parking lots for visitors.

Proceeds from this year's gala will help fund a $100,000 master plan for the park project. The Riverfront Authority applied for a 80-20 matching grant from the United States Department of the Interior's Scenic Byway program to help cover this expense, and is trying to raise $20,000 locally. The Riverfront project ranked first on the program's list of priority projects for the state of Kansas, according to Fort Scott-Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Chairman Dean Mann.

The master plan, which will include all planned details of the park project as well as input from committee members and members of the community, is the first big step in the development of the project, Mann said.

"It's our tool for building it and then we can seek additional grants in the future for the project," he said.

The Riverfront Authority raised about $2,200 through the first-ever Riverfront Festival in July, and hopes to raise the remaining needed funds through the gala. The park project will make a positive economic impact in Fort Scott, Mann added.

The gala will also include a special fundraiser for a $1,000 certificate from a local photography studio.

The event is open to the public but reservations are required and must be made by Friday. Three tiers of reservation levels are available for the event. Individual reservations cost $65; Trendsetter reservations cost $100 per individual; and Pacesetter reservations, which are often a table, cost $1,000. Trendsetter and Pacesetter levels will be honored at a wine and cheese reception prior to the gala in the Buffalo Grill, located on the first floor of the building where the gala will take place. Pacesetters will also be featured in a special presentation and individually recognized during the evening.

Less than 100 reservations remain for the event. Organizers are anticipating an attendance of about 400 people at the gala.

For more information, contact Farmer at (620) 223-4692.