Grand Weekend For Grand Park
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWestfield Mayor Andy Cook says the new Grand Park sports complex is creating a “unique and profitable environment” for business. The city is hosting grand opening activities for the $45 million venue this weekend. Cook says early events at the park have drawn about 400,000 visitors from throughout the country. He says that has led to considerable interest from businesses looking to move into the area, playing into the city's goal of diversifying its tax base. Cook discussed the venue's impact during an interview to air this weekend on Inside INdiana Business Television.
June 18, 2014
News Release
Westfield, Ind. — Grand Park will hold its official opening celebration beginning Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. Called “Indiana's Grandest Weekend,” the event will feature live music, food offerings, a beer garden, fireworks and a 50-foot Ferris wheel.
“While designed to attract sports visitors from across the country, Grand Park was always intended to be a gathering place for our community to enjoy,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook. “We're so excited to welcome Westfield residents to celebrate the opening of their Grand Park.”
The event weekend kicks off Friday evening at 6 p.m. with a concert featuring Dave & Rae.
Saturday’s activities include a grand ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. with Governor Mike Pence, Mayor Cook, Indy Eleven Head Coach Juergen Sommer and other officials, followed by outdoor concerts featuring Circle City Royals from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and The Wright Brothers Band from 7-10 p.m. The night ends with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. visible throughout the park. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs to enjoy the concerts and festivities.
Visitors to the park will also be able to watch games of the Hoosier Lacrosse Tournament, Perfect Game Super 25 Baseball Tournament and American Softball Association State Championships taking place that weekend.
The Grand Opening event continues on Sunday at 8 a.m. with “A Grand Run” 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk presented by Wellbrooke of Westfield. The 5K course tours through the extensive trail system at the park with views of the 26 baseball fields and 31 multipurpose fields. Online registration is available at www.getmeregistered.com.
More details about the event weekend can be found online at www.grandpark.org.
Food will include favorites such as funnel cakes, elephant ears, soft serve ice cream, corn dogs, tenderloins and kettle corn. The beer tent will feature Coors Lite, Upland Wheat, Blue Moon, Triton Rail Splitter IPA, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and two beers from Grand Junction Brewery.
There will also be a Kid’s Zone, complete with football long toss, a foot golf course, race to home base and guess your pitch.
Attendees of the Grand Opening celebration are encouraged to bring any new or gently used sports equipment items to donate to the Geared for Health program. Geared for Health: Sports Equipment for Kids is a program that distributes donated sports equipment FREE to not-for-profit, youth-serving organizations.
Indiana Sports Corporation, WTHR 13, Jay’s Moving Company, LIDS and Finish Line support this program to help keep kids active and fit plus make sports more accessible to underserved youth. Since 2009, over 227 organizations and 210,000 kids across the state of Indiana have been served with donated gear. The need is significant and currently not all requests for gear can be fulfilled.
Source: City of Westfield