Benefit Concert Rocks Sims Park

Hudson resident Patty Reeves visited Sims Park over the weekend and witnessed the second annual Rock the Park concert. Here are her word and images fdrom the event. Would you like to see more of Patty's images? Visit the Pattty Reeves Art and Images Facebook page.

I went to Rock the Park in Sims Park on Saturday. Not knowing the Who, What or Why of the event, I found the one each person I asked, said I needed to speak to: Sean Kline. I asked him, "Take me through the concept for this event, when did you get the idea and why?"

It was Christmas day in 2010 when Kline was celebrating the holidays with his family. His family busying with unwrapping gifts around the tree, he had a singular thought for the place he worked, The Center for Independence, a not-for-profit agnecy that for almost 50 years has provided community living, adult day training and employment skills to individuals with developmental disabilities.

"I work at this place that does great things and nobody knows who we are," he said. He marks that day as the seed for his concept for an event to bring awareness to the Center and a 'fun way to raise funds.'

A bass player and lover or rock music, Kline also thought of the youth in the community, the up-and-coming musicians who have no forum to cut their teeth as live performers.

"We have all these great festivals here in Sims Park, Chasco, the Blues Fest.... but there's no place for young musicians to perform Rock music," he said. 

Over the next eight months, he made phone calls and garnered support and sponsorships. He took to Facebook to find Bay area talent, local young musicians eager to perform, and together his vision came to fruition as 'Rock The Park,' taking place on a smaller scale in 2011. This year, the event gained traction with corporate sponsorships and Silent Auction, donations from area businesses that filled the tables inside the main tent. "This year is definately bigger than last and that's because of all the great support from the community, and with the music community supporting us, I think it's going to keep getting better."

As music flowed from the Sims Park stage, he pointed to the band performing, 'Shoebox Monsters.'

"They drove all the way up from Sarasota to support us and tonight is their high school prom," Kline said.