Catching Air: Hundreds attend inaugural Battle at the Bridge
Published 3:41 pm Monday, May 14, 2018
Star Photo/Curtis Carden ECCPL Archivist Joe Penza catches some air on a ramp near Covered Bridge Park.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Haley Younce came away as the winner of the Battle at the Bridge's musical competition.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Seasons of Me, from Johnson City, rocks the stage at Covered Bridge Park.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Attendees were able to participate in urban art stations across Covered Bridge Park.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Representatives from the nationally-recongized truth movement were on site Saturday to promote tobacco cessation to youth.
Kelly Kitchens knew that offering a new event could potentially offer some hurdles.
But the events coordinator with Elizabethton Parks and Recreation was quick to break a smile near the conclusion of the Battle at the Bridge, an inaugural event held Saturday at Covered Bridge Park that featured rock music, urban art demonstrations and a BMX/skateboard showcase on Elk Avenue Bridge.
Kitchens added the event surpassed expectations as hundreds made their way to the park to take part in a new endeavor from Parks & Rec.
“This kicks off a busy summer,” said Mike Mains, Parks & Rec director. “Kelly really did a great job planning this event. Jilian (Reece) with Carter County Drug Prevention also did a great job in getting this event together. This is a busy time of the year for our department, but seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces is what this is all about. This is something that Elizabethton will enjoy, and that’s what this is all about.”
Parks & Rec banded together with CCDP to bring in a bevy of sponsors to help make Saturday a reality. Sponsors involved with the event included Northeast Community Credit Union, Ambrose Sound, Shred Skate, Backdoor Records, The Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library, Campbell’s Morrell Music, Middleman Ministries and the Sound Asylum Recording Studio.
“There are so many people to thank,” Mains said. “All of the sponsors really helped make this all possible. We also want to thank (Police Chief) Jason Shaw with the police department, his staff and Danny Hilbert and the street and sanitation staff for helping with today’s event.”
Kitchens indicated that Battle at the Bridge was geared for all ages, but stressed a focus on giving the teenage and young adult demographic some activities to do.
CCDP helped secure the truth initiative, a nationally-recognized organization geared to young adults to help them steer clear from tobacco products.
Saturday’s event was able to pack a punch with several adults and youth taking to the streets to shred with their bikes and skateboards in a safely monitored area.
And Covered Bridge Park’s stage featured a variety of musical performances. Local bands Big Mstr, HipGypsy and Seasons of Me rocked the stage while area youth were able to perform in a “Battle of the Bands” competition.
Carter County native Haley Younce was able to come away on top of the competition and mentioned she was excited to be part of the inaugural event.
“I heard about this from Jilian,” said Younce, who dabbles in bluegrass, gospel and country music genres. “I’m really into music so I thought it’d be a great opportunity to be part of a big community event.”
Younce added that she is looking forward to next year’s event and will encourage her friends to take part.
And encouraging involvement is what the Parks & Rec department is all about.
“I just hope that in the future, when we’re able to do events like these, that we can see more and more people come out and take advantage of this great entertainment,” said Mains. “When you look at this event, we really focused on all ages. But in a couple of weeks, we’ll have gospel music, a country band, some rock … that’s the thing, we want to serve everyone in the community. This has been something different and it was able to attract a new demographic and we’re excited about the turnout.”
Covered Bridge Park will be bustling with traffic in the coming weeks for the 2018 installment of Covered Bridge Jams. To learn more about the department’s upcoming schedule of activities, visit their website or call (423) 547-6441.
