Gem City Summer Concert Series representative tells Park Board of intention to return to Lincoln Park in 2025

QUINCY — The Gem City Summer Concert Series is returning to Lincoln Park next summer.

Whitney Mintert spoke to the Quincy Park Board during the public input portion of Wednesday night’s monthly meeting. At the same time, concert organizer Scott Edlin was the host of a dinner thanking the sponsors of the series this past summer. 

“We are planning several informational meetings for both existing and hopefully new sponsors where we will share our plans for growth and also discuss our plans to enhance the attendance experience in 2025,” Mintert said. 

“Most notably, we’ve partnered with a new promoter and a larger entertainment agency. Both see the potential here In Lincoln Park to grow this festival series larger than what it is today.”

At the aforementioned sponsorship dinner, Edlin announced the 2025 concert dates would be July 11-12.

Commissioner John Frankenhoff then asked if concert organizers were committed to bringing the concerts back to Lincoln Park.

“We are not considering another venue unless, for some reason, you all have something else going on that is going on,” Mintert said. “That is our focus, to be back down here again.”

Mintert said the Gem City Concert Series attracted an average of about 3,700 attendees on each of four nights of performances. It accounted for 88 nights of hotel room rentals and contributed around $5,500 in food and beverage tax revenue.

Country music was the theme of the first weekend of the concert series on May 25-26. Rock music was the focus of the weekend on June 21-22.

“It’s not nearly the numbers that I think we were hoping for, but for a first year in a new location that we weren’t familiar with, I think we did quite well,” Mintert said.

She reported that many visitors “walked away with positive outlooks” on Quincy. No security incidents were reported.

“We look forward to continuing to build this relationship,” Mintert said. “Without your continued support and allowing us to sit at your table, we would not be able to send these events to our citizens at the level we have. We would not be able to continue giving back to our community.”

Commissioners reviewed a list of capital projects to be paid for with $1.17 million in non-referendum general obligation bonds. The proceeds will fund significant repairs, renovations and park improvement projects. 

The list of projects, which will be presented for final approval at the Oct. 9 Park Board meeting are:

• Lincoln Park: Playground resurfacing, $140,000
• Moorman Park: Multiple courts resurfacing, $50,000
• Quinsippi Island: Shelter replacement, $250,000
• Moorman Park: Resurfacing Moorman Road to T-ball fields, $225,000
• Madison Park: Tennis courts resurfacing, $30,000
• Paul Dennis Soccer Complex: Restroom/shelter updates, $40,000
• Paul Dennis Soccer Complex: Two drinking fountains, four sets of trash/recycling containers, $20,000
• Paul Dennis Soccer Complex: Playground, $65,000
• Madison Park: Bandstand, $200,000
• Moorman Park: Sign on 36^th Street, $10,000
• Moorman Park: Sidewalk and railing on fishing dock, $10,000

In other action, the Park Board:

• Amended the Park District’s salary administration program and authorized appropriation limits for the salaries of the district’s full time, non-union staff. The total amount budgeted for salary increases was set at approximately $109,635 above the current 2024 budgeted amount. The increases are due to a new federal labor law for salaried employees. Executive Director Rome Frericks’ salary, set by the Park Board, was not included in the amendment.
• Learned the irrigation project at Westview Golf Course has four holes left before completion. Director of Golf David Morgan said the number of rounds played at Westview this year is more than 4,000 ahead of last year. Director of Business Services Brian Earnest said revenue at the golf course through Aug. 31 is $156,000 higher than at the same point last year. “Last year was a fantastic year out there. This year obviously is significantly better than that,” Earnest said.
• Learned Frericks and Park Board President Mark Philpot recently met with city officials about a proposed splash pad at the former sludge dome slated for demolition on Front Street south of Clat Adams Park. Frericks said the riverfront development committee is looking for ways to spend a $350,000 state capital grant.  
• Learned Philpot recently met with Chris Collins, superintendent of the New Philadelphia National Historic Site near Barry, who will speak to the Park Board at its October meeting. “It’s going to be an excellent opportunity for us to connect with individuals from the National Park Service,” Philpot said. “It’s going to be a chance to do something new, something bold and something different. … People are going to visit the site of New Philadelphia, and there will be plenty. Those individuals will need a place to stay, and Quincy has the infrastructure available to accommodate those visitors.”