Audio upgrade proposed for park

McKinley Park might amp up the volume at events next year thanks to an audio proposal.

Brandon Robertson of TRT Studios LLP is looking to bring an outdoor sound system to McKinley Park, free of charge to the city. Robertson shared his idea at a Creston Parks and Recreation board meeting earlier this month.

“It’s a complete sound system for McKinley Park, from the the campground to the road where you cross for Taylor Park,” Robertson said. “I have a couple people who are ready to write grants for me, I just need your guys’ blessing for this.”

Robertson’s plan would include between 15 and 20 speakers scattered across the grounds, split into a number of zones.

“I for sure want to do different zones for the park and the campground, so if you wanted to broadcast something to the park, you could, but leave the campgrounds out of it,” Robertson said.

This could also include different zones in the park itself for events such as the Fourth of July Talent Show and Party in the Park. The board noted zones could be turned off to share storm warnings and important announcements with the entire park.

The speakers would be rated for outdoor use and attached to wooden poles throughout the park. They would be welded into a steel cage to deter theft. Robertson expects speakers to last between 10 and 15 years once up.

Robertson said this idea stemmed from the pyro-musical event last year, where fireworks were set to music. The speaker system used didn’t work as well as hoped, so he said he started planning for a park-wide, year-round speaker system with the hope of using it for future events.

“Last year when we did the pyro-musical, I noticed the sound, just setting up speakers down below there, wasn’t going to work,” Robertson said. “A pyro-musical from start to finish takes about eight months worth of time. I poured eight months worth of work into it and it didn’t work out with the sound last year, so I said we’re going to fix it this.”

Robertson expects the cost of the project to be anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000, all covered by grants. His company will also donate the labor, so it will be at no cost to the city.

Board members said they’d hold off on their decision until the following board meeting, Sept. 11, when Robertson said he’d provide more concrete plans and details. However, the board was generally in favor of the project.

“With one storm, it pays for itself,” board member Gary Borcherding said.

Board member Katie Turner was not present.