Common Ground does well with area residents
There was nothing common about this year's Common Ground festival, held July 9 to 14 on the banks of the Grand River in downtown Lansing.
Concerts by well-known groups and solo artists - including Foreigner, Smokey Robinson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Journey, and Kool and the Gang - highlighted the week's events.
The best attended concert was on Friday, July 12, when over 12,000 people flocked to see '70s super group Foreigner belt out such rock classics as "Cold as Ice," "Feels Like The First Time" and "Urgent."
About 9,000 people visited Common Ground Sunday, July 14 to check out Motown legend Smokey Robinson ("Tears of a Clown," "Tracks of My Tears," etc.).
Along with the music, there were also plenty of other activities to entertain those who attended the third annual Common Ground festivities.
Many people young and old flocked to the Ferris wheel perched atop the Shiawassee Street bridge to get a spectacular view of the festival grounds. The colorful ride was sponsored financially by Able Concrete of Lansing.
Sponsorship of the Ferris wheel was the brainchild of Kevin Wesley of Delhi Township, the vice president of Able Concrete. This is the second year Able Concrete has sponsored the Ferris wheel, allowing all Common Ground visitors to board the ride free of charge.
"It's unique for someone in our industry to do this," Wesley said. "The main thing we promote is that we care about our community."
Able Concrete also sponsored boat rides aboard the Princess Laura on Saturday afternoon, July 13, as part of its Common Ground partnership. Wesley said Able Concrete invested the majority of its 2002 marketing budget into sponsoring the Ferris wheel and the boat rides.
The Burcham Hills Foundation, which raises funds for the Burcham Hills retirement community in East Lansing, sponsored a pair of fun golf-related events, in which participants had a chance to win valuable prizes. In one contest, golfers tried to win $25,000 in cash, or a $30,000 car, by sinking a hole-in-one on a floating green in the Grand River. In the other game, a putting contest, golfers tested their short games in an effort to win $5,000.
No one was able to conquer the hole-in-one challenge. However, one lucky contestant, Clark Alling of Dimondale, sank a 50-foot "playoff" putt on Saturday, July 13, to win a $5,000 cash prize.
"I was watching the concert at the time he was putting," said Alling's wife, Karen. "He came back and told me that he had just shot a $5,000 putt. I didn't believe him at first.He said there was a whole line of people and they were cheering for him."
Karen said she isn't sure what Clark will do with his winnings. She said she would like him to purchase a video camera. The couple certainly would have plenty of video taping opportunities, since they have two children, Kim, 14; and Mike, 11.
The $5,000 prize won by Alling did not come out of the profits for the Burcham Hills Foundation, since the group had purchased insurance in case there was a winner.
Michael Wolfston, director of development for the Burcham Hills Foundation, said the golf games were fun for everyone, and raised $9,606 in six days for the Burcham Hills retirement community.
"We had great community support," Wolfston said. "There was a constant line (to complete). And we had floating golf balls so we didn't pollute the river."
The floating golf balls were donated by Pro Golf Discount in Okemos, Wolfston said.
"It's a good fundraiser," Wolfston said of the golfing event. "A lot of community organizing goes into it. We had a different business each day staffing it."
Wolfston said area businesses donating manpower, prizes and/or financial support for the golf events included Financial Health Credit Union, CARELINC, Citizens Bank's East Lansing branch, DBI U.S. Office Products, United Parcel Service, Analysts International, and H & H Mobil of East Lansing.
Malinda Barr, media director for the festival, said attendance for the six-day Common Ground festival was estimated at 60,000 people. She said popular additions to this year's festival included the "Crafter's Crossroad," featuring more than 40 craft booths, and "The Sand Bar" restaurant, where concert-goers could enjoy their favorite acts on a television screen while relaxing with a cold beverage.
Also popular with area families this year was the Children's Interactive Playground Area and Stage, which featured slides, a bungee run, a moon walk, face painting, inline skating and much more.
"The weather was beyond great," Barr said. "We had record-setting attendance and everyone was in a great mood. The location for the festival is absolutely perfect for the type of festival that it is." |