Park Theatre fundraising effort gets rolling

The Park Theatre Group received a welcome boost in both money and community support when U.S. Bank donated $500, through a company grant program, to the local organization which is working on renovating and re-opening the venerated venue.

U.S. Bank’s Shane Brock presented the check to Park Theatre Group president Sandra Haynes Friday, with board members David Marttala and Diane Stanley on hand to express their appreciation.

Even though the grant is aimed at funding programming for the theater, and not directly toward construction, Haynes said the donation will help keep the ball rolling with fundraising efforts and perhaps encourage other businesses to join in the effort to bring the Park back to its previous glory.

‘This grant is for entertainment,’ Haynes said. ‘So many people don’t realize the Park is going to be more than a restored movie house. We want to have live entertainment in there. When Shane came to me and said, ‘We have some grants that can help with that,’ I was really pleased. I want to encourage other people who may know of other grants the Park Theatre can use to let us know about it.’

Haynes says this shows the community has confidence the project will come to fruition and the money will be used to help provide a variety of live programs. Haynes says the organization has decided to concentrate on renovating the interior of the theater so these performances can be held there as early as possible.

‘We want to start having some events to let people know that we’re open to any kind of live entertainment in the Park Theatre once it’s open,’ Haynes said. ‘So we hope this will raise awareness so we can raise the money to begin that restoration.’

Haynes says estimates are that it will take around $300,000 to get the theater to that point, with the interior wiring being the main cost element.

Brock said U.S. Bank is pleased to be a part of the movement to bring this kind of entertainment to McMinnville.

‘This is a grant provided by the U.S. Bank Corp., Grant Foundation,’ Brock said. ‘U.S. Bank established this foundation many, many years ago to give back to local non-profits in the communities our banks serve. So we’re delighted to be able to give this grant to the Park Theatre Group.’