2020 Summer In The Parks Program To Offer Arts Programs In Wilmington

From the City of Wilmington:

July 9, 2020

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, City Parks and Recreation Director Kevin F. Kelley, Sr., and The Grand Executive Director Mark Fields today announced the 2020 Summer in the Parks program. This is the seventh year that the City and The Grand have partnered on the program.

Throughout the month of July, the newly renovated William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center (WHACC) at 501 North Madison Street in West Center City will host free arts experiences for youth, ages 6 to 12. These recreational opportunities are provided with all necessary COVID-19 health and safety precautions in place in accordance with State of Delaware Phase 2 guidelines. Should any activity offered by the City result in COVID-related health concerns for participants or staff, the activity will be halted immediately for further review.

Beginning this week, young people are invited to explore a different art form each weekday afternoon at WHACC, beginning at 12:30 p.m.:

• MONDAYS – Poetry & Spoken Word with Christian Wills, focusing on participation and learning poetry, poetry writing, open mic, and performance techniques.
• TUESDAYS – Dance & Movement with Ashley SK Davis from Pieces of a Dream, learning various styles of dance, rhythm and musicality, basic choreography, spatial awareness, and body control.
• WEDNESDAYS – Theatre & Acting with Mariah Ghant and Anthony McIver from Delaware Shakespeare, providing a fun and interactive introduction to the works of Shakespeare, the time period, his use of language, and acting out famous scenes.
• THURSDAYS – Music & Drumming with Jason Keller, focusing on participation and learning drums, drumming techniques, and drum lines with fun and familiar music.

Pieces of a Dream and Delaware Shakespeare have been Summer in the Parks partners since its first year. Mr. McIver is a former “Hicks” summer camp participant. Mr. Wills and Mr. Keller are Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education (DiAE) teaching artists, new to the program this year.

In keeping with Summer in the Parks tradition, The Grand will also present four evenings of free concerts in City parks. These outdoor events provide a safe environment for music, dancing, and fun with the whole family. All concert times are 6:30-8 p.m. Face masks are required, and social distancing will be enforced.

• WED, JULY 15: Pristine Raeign @ Holloway/Compton Park (E. 7th & N. Lombard Streets)
• WED, JULY 22: Christina Cultural Arts Center featuring Richard Raw and the Word Warrior Band @ Haynes Park (Miller Road & W. 30th-32nd Streets)
• WED, JULY 29: Jea Street Jr. @ Father Tucker Memorial Park (N. Lincoln Street & W. 9th-Howland Streets)
• WED, AUG 5: Music School of Delaware and Delaware Children’s Theatre @ Union Park Gardens (S. Bancroft Parkway & Sycamore Street)

“As we all learn to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am especially pleased that the City and The Grand have come up with a way to continue the popular Summer in the Parks series and to do it in a safe way for participants, artists, and performers,” said Mayor Purzycki. “We are especially pleased to be providing essential arts programming at the newly refurbished William ‘Hicks’ Anderson Community Center as well as offering live music from some of the City’s most respected performing artists in our neighborhood parks. With all necessary precautions in place, we hope for a safe, healthy and enjoyable summer for everyone.”

Pamelyn Manocchio, The Grand’s Director of Community Engagement, is the producing coordinator for Summer in the Parks. “I am thrilled that we are able to provide some form of exposure to the arts for children in Wilmington, and very excited to announce our upcoming concerts in the parks. We ask all residents and participants to join us – but to do so safely by following the State guidelines on social distancing. Our community deserves to enjoy the arts and The Grand is doing our best to make live entertainment available to all!”

All programs and schedules are contingent upon weather and subject to change. A full schedule of activities and calendar updates will be posted on The Grand’s website at www.TheGrandWilmington.org/Parks and www.Facebook.com/Summerinparks. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for more details and the latest updates.

Summer in the Parks was created in 2013 to provide a variety of visual and performing arts activities for youth and families right in their own neighborhoods. Since its launch, Summer in the Parks has served more than 23,600 participants at 505 events. The program’s success is attributed to the collaboration between The Grand, the City of Wilmington, and dozens of civic organizations, educators, caregivers, and other nonprofits who believe in the importance of our primary goal: to provide a safe and creative outlet for neighborhood youth during the summer months.

This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.