I wasn’t born or raised in Gettysburg, but moved here five years ago. I say I was lucky to have moved much of my childhood because I experienced so many different communities. After living in Gettysburg for five years, I am still impressed and in awe of how much Adams County’s community and all of its businesses and organizations care for their home.
Everyone at GARA wants to say thank you to those who took the time to write cards and donate to the rec park the past few months, especially during the past year. We are grateful to everyone who thought of GARA and wrote how important the park was to them during such a difficult time. We also want to say thank you to everyone who rents a pavilion or held their event at the Rec Park. It’s a community park and we want everyone in the community to enjoy it.
One of the community partners that has been friends of the rec park is the Gettysburg Green Gathering. Over the years, the rec park has lost many trees to disease, weather, and age. The Gettysburg Green Gathering has replaced many of those trees and will continue to do so again this year.
On May 15th the Gettysburg Green Gathering will be hosting their annual tree planting event. Community members can buy a tree from the Gettysburg Green Gathering they can plant at the Rec Park with a plague of dedication will be put next to the tree.
This year the Green Gathering is also planting a butterfly garden at the Winebrenner entrance of the Biser Trail. Thanks to the Green Gathering’s $500 donation to GARA to rent a stump grinder, park staff were able to remove 15 tree stumps from the park.
One community event at the rec park that was created due to the events of last year is the Fourth of July fireworks. They will be held again this year at the Rec Park on Sunday July 4th. This is a collaboration between GARA, Destination Gettysburg, and the Rotary Club of Gettysburg. More activities have been added to the event this year. Starting at 6:00 p.m. local band Schizophonic will be playing at the amphitheater and food trucks will line the Biser Trail. Parking will be available for $6 with a $1 discount for anyone paying with cash. The fireworks are set to go off at 9:20 p.m.
Thank you again to all those who help support the Gettysburg Rec Park. As we all continue to ease back into a new normal keep an eye out for community events and programs at the park this year.
You can find park information at the Gettysburg Rec Park Facebook page or at http://gara-recpark.info.
Erin is the Executive Director of the Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority