Fest's most popular events retained

Some changes have been made to a popular Independence Day tradition at Gunn Park.

An event that has taken place each Fourth of July at Gunn Park since 2004 will no longer be called Freedom Fest after the dissolution of the Gunn Park Event Committee, a local group of volunteers that had organized each event and other special community events at Gunn Park up until 2009. This year, the Fort Scott Recreation Commission will sponsor three events on Saturday that were traditionally part of Freedom Fest.

Kathi Plain, a former member of the Gunn Park Event Committee, said the committee broke up primarily due to lack of funding and donations needed to conduct the community events.

"We didn't have the financial support we needed," she said. "Of course, I think the economy plays a part in that."

FSRC Director Tom Robertson, also a former member of the Gunn Park Event Committee, said the three main events that will take place this weekend were the most popular events of Freedom Fest, which is why the FSRC wanted to make sure those events were available to the public again this summer. Those events include a 6-on-6 mud volleyball tournament that begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, the 6th Annual 5K Sam's Walk or Run which begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Shelter House No. 3 in Gunn Park, and a youth fishing derby starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

In past years, Gunn Park was closed to traffic for Freedom Fest, with attendees parking vehicles in the parking lots of nearby businesses and using buses that were provided for transportation in and out of the park throughout the duration of the event. This year, the park will be open and vehicles may enter and park at certain locations within Gunn Park, but no transportation will be provided, Robertson said.

Plain said members of the Gunn Park Event Committee had been talking about disbanding since organizing last year's Christmas in the Park event at Gunn Park when members realized they were low on funds and volunteers needed to conduct its yearly events. The group relied on donations from the community and help from volunteers to make the events happen. Proceeds from Freedom Fest typically allowed the committee to put on its other annual events and offer them free of charge to the community.

Plain added that she will "never say never" and that maybe the committee will come together again or another similar group will someday continue what the original committee first started.

"We tried to keep events free or low-cost," she said. "Who knows, maybe someone will step up and bring it back down the road."

Robertson said another reason the committee was discontinued was due to the resignation of some members, but added that hopefully new members can be recruited so the group can re-form in the future.

Freedom Fest was an event that began six years ago to help provide family entertainment and activities locally for community members.

For more information on any of the Independence Day events, contact the FSRC at (620) 223-0386.