Park project & Concerts

Butternut Park and the Chelsea Summer Concert Series

Butternut Park

Butternut Park is located on the East bank of the Kennebec River in Chelsea.

This is an ongoing project in collaboration with the Chelsea Conservation Committee, the Chelsea Historical Society and Girl Scout Troop #1075

Collaboration, Signage & Event

We first collaborated with the Chelsea Historical Society. We obtained a grant to place picnic tables and historical signage in Butternut Park. The Chelsea Historical Society provided us with the information on the history of the Chelsea Waterfront and we partnered with them on an event when we unveiled the sign.

Collaboration with Chelsea Conservation Committee

Next, we worked with the Chelsea Conservation Committee on walking trails.

First Clean-up day

We partnered with the Chelsea Conservation Committee and volunteers from our community for a Butternut Park Clean-Up Day.

Reintroduced butternut trees

We worked with both the Chelsea Historical Society and the Chelsea Conservation Committee to reintroduce Butternut trees to the park.

Second clean-up Day

Girl Scout Troop #1075 and Age-Friendly Chelsea ‘teamed up’ to ‘clean up’ Butternut Park. Numerous bags of trash and tires were removed from the park. Our town paid to dispose.

Trailhead kiosk & informational markers for trees/plants

We received a grant to install a trailhead kiosk. We are also doing informational markers on trees/plants.

Don’t let Mother Nature get you down.

‘River Stage’

We worked with the Chelsea Conservation Committee to build a ‘River Stage’ utilizing natural resources found in the park.

We are partnering with the Chelsea Historical Society on an event in August and the first band will play in the park.

Concerts

Our town purchased an event tent to use for the concerts, pays for the porta potty, and up to $600.00 per concert. Last year we approached local businesses to sponsor a concert. This year we approached businesses to sponsor the series. We created a letter and sponsorship form.

We hired a concert promoter. The promoter is responsible for lining up the bands, promoting the concerts and speaking at each concert.

Event tent set up and tear down

THANK GOODNESS FOR VOLUNTEERS!

We set up the tent the day before the concert and take it down the day after.

Portable staging

We collaborate with the Chelsea Elementary School Music Teacher to use their portable staging. We pick it up the morning of the concert and return it the day after.

Partnerships that benefit the community

Last year we had food trucks at the concerts.

This year we collaborated with the Chelsea Booster Club. They sell food out of the Snack Shack and money raised helps to fund extracurricular activities for students.

fundraising

Last year we held a 50/50 raffle during the concerts. Half of the money raised was donated to the Chelsea Food Bank.

We have continued the 50/50 this year.

Promote, promote, promote

Social Media, Bulletin Boards, Newsletters

Lastly, make a board showing all your community events and display. You will be amazed at how many people stop and look at it. Great way to interest volunteers too.