Motivated by the fear of losing a 30-year summertime tradition at the Kirkland Marina Park, two local residents have stepped up and taken the reins of the Kirkland Summer Concert Series after the city cut its funding.

Every summer since 1978, the city has put on a summer-long series of concerts for its residents. With morning concerts for children and evening concerts for adults and families, the annual series stretched through July and August.

Last November, Kirkland residents voted down a utility tax that would have funded neighborhood services, like the Parks and Community Services Department. The summer concert series was included in the tax proposal, and without it the city was forced to cancel the concerts.

Kirkland residents Karen Story and Chris Cottingham took notice when they caught wind of the series’ cancellation.

“I love the concert series,” said Story. I’ve lived in Kirkland for 21 years; I can’t imagine a summer in Marina Park without concerts.”

Story, who works as a technical writer, is also a musician. Her band is the bluegrass and swing group Back Burner.

“I would love for my band to be picked to play at Marina Park,” said Story. “If there is no concert series, there is no chance to play.”

So Story contacted the city, asking about the possibility of a citizen group stepping in and rescuing the concerts, and was directed to Mike Metteer.

Around the same time Cottingham contacted Metteer, the business services program manager at the Kirkland Parks and Community Services Department, about saving the concert series as well.

Story, Cottingham and Metteer have been working with Tracy Harrison, the recreation coordinator for the North Kirkland Community Center. Harrison organized the concert series for the past 20 years; now they are working together to organize the 2010 Kirkland Summer Concert Series.

“After 32 years under the direction of the Parks and Community Services Department, it was disappointing to learn that we would no longer be organizing this event,” said Harrison.

“Thanks to the enthusiasm of community organizers, and the commitment of sponsors, the music will continue to be provided on the Kirkland waterfront for all to enjoy,” she added.     

Planning is well underway for the upcoming summer, and Story and Cottingham can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Kirkland Downtown Association has become the fiscal sponsor. The non-profit organization will handle the money and insurance for the operation. The city is giving Story and Cottingham free ad space in the Parks Department’s spring and summer brochure, and the two have nailed down key sponsors to help fund the series, including Trader Joe’s, Conover Insurance, Evergreen Hospital Medical Center and Kiwanis.

“We’ve raised about half the money that we need,” said Story. “We still need another $9,000.”

Story and Cottingham will be approaching other local businesses in the coming months to help fund the concerts. Private donations are also welcome.

For next summer, a total of 16 concerts are planned over eight weeks. Cottingham, who has extensive experience producing music events, is handling the booking. Musical acts include Creme Tangerine, a perennial favorite, as well as California band The Stilltime. While traditionally on Wednesday mornings, this year the children’s concerts will be on Tuesday mornings from 10-11 a.m. The adult concerts will be held Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. The concerts will run from July 6 to Aug. 26.

For further information, or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, contact Karen Story at Karen@tinyisland.com

Sarah Storm is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.