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President, Madeleine O’Callaghan’s address to council July 27, 2011

Mayor Adams charged us in his ‘state of Sedona speech – “we must work together as a community for the greater good of Sedona” And Most importantly, we must be prepared to move beyond the status quo and into the future with a strong vision and unity in our goals !!

Tonight we need to keep those goals before us.

As President of Friends of the Posse Grounds I remind you that our Public Private Partnership with the city continues. This is not the time to be faint of heart. Know that we stand ready to help the city and staff resolve the questions and concerns regarding the building of Barbara’s Park. We firmly believe they can be resolved.

We our selves did over 6 months of due diligence before engaging in the current design to see that all the communities concerns were addressed. Trust us,we as well as you, want this facility and renewed park land to truly be the “Jewell in the Crown”

Hundreds of supporters and donors have been steadfast at our side as we have moved through the amazing process of city and community meetings to get to today, with an approved set of plans that have gone out to bid. You have a history of that support in the note book we gave each of you.

You have heard from many of our community residents entertainers, teachers, and theater directors,that they desire the completion of this project and how they will use .

We will gather in small groups – the CUP is for the daytime use for a maximum of 300 people in casual blanket picnic style seating. The facility will provide shade for the audience as well as complete shelter from the elements for the entertainers. It has restrooms, performer rooms, and storage.

I want to leave you with the words of two of our supporters, “Public parks can unite a community and create a bond of identity” Sunny Larsen. and from Claudia Tulip.

Barbara’s Park speaks to and serves Sedona’s core strengths of inspiration, creativity, beauty and wisdom. Barbara’s Park is a great gift to and of the Sedona community. It deserves it’s place in the sun.

I ask that tonight you follow the tradition of past councils and commissions and give this project a unanimous vote to move it forward.

Thank you -

“The need for this project is non-debatable.”
—-John Sather, renowned architect and planner

by James Bishop

It is sometimes said that dreams are cursed with short life spans and vanish into memory bins of what might have been. Vanish they do because of impatience, more hope than exertion, and fuzzy goals and objectives. Sometimes, however, they come true.

Such a time is now, a rare moment when Sedona’s award– winning Community Plan calling for a town “animated by the arts… with a spirit of volunteerism to help common goals,” could come alive in the form of Barbara’s Park.

Looming is Tuesday, 26 July, 4:30 PM at City Council. The public is encouraged to come and speak out to show support for this thrilling community project that’s coming down to the wire. The power of the people is needed to keep this moving toward ground breaking.

Joyful when that happens, besides teachers, poets, musicians, and many others, too will be the Friends of the Posse Grounds, the diversified volunteer board behind creating Barbara’s Park which, for nearly a decade, has had a mission: to provide a community gathering place within Sedona’s Historic Posse Grounds Park, one that will preserve and enhance Sedona’s small town character, and become a major location for the abundant local talent in Greater Sedona and the Verde Valley to entertain locals and visitors of all ages. Citizens have seen it in action already at poetry readings, Red Dirt Concerts, Holiday Sings and Art Scrapture events.

Now that the concept of “sustainability” is in the air, besides being applied to food, water and land, it is also about culture. Thus the Park will be a place to celebrate the past, the present and the future with family gatherings, classes, art shows, small theatre production, storytelling, concerts and sometimes just the silence surrounded by views that make the hearts of cold-hearted men melt like an ice cream cone in July.

Declares James Eaton, former city Councilmen, arts commissioner and famed Public Citizen, “I have lived here for more than 20 years and the community has needed a park like this for all those years.”

To bring this about, The Friends and the City of Sedona are in a public-private partnership – with plenty of public support– to create improvements to the site, including a covered outdoor venue, shade, open views and Art Walls to commemorate the history and supporters of the park.

Standing room is expected on Tuesday 4:30 PM at City Council; looming is the opportunity for citizens to show elected officials that this town can come together.

In Sedona the community is working together with our city to build a unique outdoor performing arts venue for our local talent. As you can see this venue will provide shade for performers and the audience.

For more of our story go to “Sedona-Barbara’s Park” on YouTube !!