Springfield Park Day Reunion 2008 Schedule of Events

July 13, 2008

BlackMissouri.com spoke with James “Lee Lee” Pike today regarding the 2008 Springfield Park Day Annual Reunion that will be held August 1, 2, and 3 2008 in Springfield, Missouri.

For those who do not know, Park Day traditionally takes place the first weekend in August. It is not just one day as the name suggests, but rather three full days of events, fun, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. The event started as a result of the flight of the Black population from Springfield following the 1906 lynching of three black men in which the Springfield police were founded to be culpably responsible for their murders. At one point, Springfield’s black population was 35% of the total population but it dwindled down to 3% to 4% almost overnight where it stays to this day.

I spoke with Lee Pike, who has been the President of the Springfield Reunion Club for more than 20 years. He said that there are many activities for everyone. See the schedule below.

Mr. Pike says that he is the youngest person on the committee and is looking for some young people to come on board so that he can mentor on keeping this tradition alive.

Springfield Reunion Club, Inc.

PARK DAY REUNION

August 1, 2, 3, 2008

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008 8:00 p.m. ~ 1:00 p.m.

HOSPITALITY ~ University Plaza Hotel

Teens $7 John Q Hammons Room featuring DJ “Pretty Tony” from Springfield, Missouri

Adults ~ $10 University Plaza Convention Center featuring ~ “DJ1” from Jacksonville, Arkansas

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008

8:00 a.m. GOLF TOURNAMENT
Deer Lake Golf Course
Contacts: Robert “Bevo” Looney 831-4443 or Jesse Hill 865-3588
9:00 a.m.  TENNIS TOURNAMENT
Silver Springs Park
Contacts: Randy Smith   886-3430
Vincent Stout    886-268211:00 a.m. BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Sunshine Lanes ~ 1500 W. Sunshine
Contacts: Sidney Needem   865-1203
Skip Thompson   862-7225
Richard Young    882-1737 12:00 NOON

PARK DAY REUNION PARADE, Silver Springs Park
Contact: Carlene Ferguson 869-1443 1:30 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m.    PARK DAY REUNION PICNICSilver Springs Park9:00 p.m. ~ 1:30 p.m. PARK DAY REUNION DANCE
University Plaza Convention Center featuring ~ “Something Extra” ~ Wichita, Kansas
$15.00 in advance ~ $20.00 at the door

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2008

MORNING WORSHIP

Go To The Church Of Your Choice

3:00 p.m.  GOSPEL SINGING IN SILVER SPRINGS PARK

Contact: Samuel Knox     864-74446:00 p.m.

MISS SILVER SPRINGS BEAUTY PAGEANT
Contact: Jane Pike   869-8091 (For pageant information or donations)

For Hotel Reservations, check ~ www.parkdayreunion.net   or call 417-869-5010

Springfield’s own, Sterling Macer wrote and directed a movie based in a Missouri town and the setting was Park Day. Buy it now at Amazon and add to your Springfield Black history collection.

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