Historical September 1983 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Central West End Neighborhood Picnic was held on Aug. 7 to the sweet smells of barbeque and success. Planned by residents of the Washington Heights area for their neighbors and supported by donations from local businesses, it was promoted by items in the St. Louis Rehabber and the West End Word, and by flyers in the SDCC area. Good planning and good promotion paid off: a crowd of over 1,000 thronged Picnic Grounds 7 and 8 at Forest Park over the day, a typically St. Louis August Sunday (hot and sunny).
As one observer said, “There were old folks and young ones, families and singles, children and dogs, and even two horses!” Families brought their picnic baskets: “Pop” Bolden presided over hot dogs, soda and beer. Frisbees flew, and a few hardfought volleyball games were waged.
There were the inevitable sand-lot (grass-lot?) softball games, not to mention a lot of blanket-sitting, look-seeing, and casual chatting.
The organizers promised a “D.J. Spin,” then outdid themselves: New Breed mesmerized the Ground 8 pavilion with live music to the delight of young and old alike (not to mention a few passing-by bikers and joggers).
The attendance prizes were worth waiting for: James Foster rode off with a bright red ten-speed bike, and Alvina Davis carried off enough ribs to have a MONSTER barbeque on her own!
In all, it was so much fun that a lot of folks would like to do it again in the relative cool of September (not to say it wasn’t a cool event)—except the organizers worked for nearly a year to bring off this great gathering!
If you are invited next year—don’t miss it!
Originally published in The Paper, September 1983.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1983_09.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
