South Parkersburg Loses Summer Concert Series

In a 5–4 vote, Parkersburg City Council approved the relocation of the Al Smith Stage event tent from Southwood Park to the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau’s welcome center downtown—effectively canceling a full lineup of free summer concerts that had been planned by former Councilwoman Nancy Wilcox.

Wilcox, who had already lined up live music at no cost to the city, pleaded with council to allow the concerts to continue through the summer. Councilman Zak Huffman proposed an amendment to delay the tent’s removal until next year, preserving this year’s concert series and giving council more time to consider long-term options. The amendment failed by the same 5–4 margin, with Tuck, Huffman, Dailey and Rexroad voting in favor of keeping the series.

“It should be noted the property was paid for by taxpayers and is now being given away to a non-Parkersburg entity,” Huffman said following the meeting. “Mark Lewis does an impeccable job at the CVB and I have no doubts this will be used for something wonderful, but I would have liked to have seen the city-owned property used at another city park—such as Point Park—where the city often has to rent coverings to host performances.”

Despite public concerns and the offer from Wilcox to personally oversee the concert series, the council majority opted to proceed with the relocation this year.

Contributor: Debbie Hardman, Parkersburg Citizen