Jackson rocks the garden

Every Friday night in June, a terraced rock and flower garden among the rolling hills of Jackson's city park will fill with music.

"Rock in the Rock Garden," a free, monthlong summer concert series, will feature a local performer or band in the park's recently restored rock garden. Concertgoers can watch the performances from a blanket or lawn chair on the garden's upper terrace, shaded by large maples and surrounded by colorful blooms and greenery.

Jackson native Doug E. Rees kicks off the series Friday, followed June 12 by Every Other Chair, a funk rock foursome of Jackson High School seniors. Popular local country artist Mark Rees performs June 19, and the series will wrap up June 26 with the classic rock and blues of Shades of Blue. The concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and end around 9.

Monthly summer concerts at the park's rock garden began two years ago, but Jackson park board president Carmen Simpher said this year's series is a first. The series is being sponsored by the city of Jackson and administered by the park board.

Shane Anderson, the city's parks and recreation director, said the driving force behind the concerts was showcasing the rock garden and figuring out how to best use the space.

Simpher said people like the concerts because of the atmosphere.

"It's just beautiful, you can see the creek, and it's free," she said.

Simpher said Dane Baker, the park superintendent, came up with the idea of music in the rock garden, and with the help of the park board the concert events started.

The garden has been restored for about three years. Anderson said the city has had a lot of support to help with beautification.

Simpher said the project began when Thrivent Financial, a group through St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, donated money to clean up the garden, which was covered with thick ivy and was not a usable space. She enlisted the help of Kathy Huck, a Jackson area resident and Master Gardener.

Huck helped clean up the rock garden and chose the flower and greenery designs for landscaping. Huck's work, along with the efforts of the park board, soon converted the area into a focal point on one of the park's many hillsides.

The park board hopes to continue the series next summer, but Simpher said the concerts will probably change nights so people can also attend Tunes at Twilight in Cape Girardeau.

The park's rock garden is on Cascade Drive just off North High Street. Parking for the concerts is available in a lot above the garden, as well as behind the park's maintenance building. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled.

Simpher said next for Jackson's park this summer will be a free outdoor movie aimed at children and families Aug. 1 beginning at dark.