By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band is inviting the public to a special 20th anniversary concert celebration on Wednesday, June 25, at Rusch Community Park. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at the future site of a memorial amphitheater planned in honor of the band’s late founder, Kathy Cook.
Cook, who passed away in 2021, founded the all-ages marching band two decades ago and led it for many years, as an effort to help foster music education and community pride throughout the city.
The proposed amphitheater, which was first pitched to the Sunrise Recreation and Park District in 2022, is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to her legacy. While construction has not yet begun, a dedicated location within the park has been selected.
To raise funds, the band is selling commemorative, personalized bricks that start at $100 each. Bricks can be purchased through the band’s webpage, chcmb.org/stage.
Sunrise Recreation and Park District Recreation Coordinator Tori Thorpe said Friday that the district is excited for the opportunity to utilize the amphitheater but is still waiting on the green light to begin planning events that make use of the future space.
The proposed amphitheater cost estimate for construction is between $300,000 and $500,000, and all funding is planned to come from community donations, according to the band’s website.
Once fully approved, construction is estimated to take four to eight weeks, the band said, adding that construction plans do include resurfacing and re-striping the existing parking lot on the west end of the park.
Rusch Park is located at 7801 Auburn Blvd., but the concert will be held on the west end of the park and residents should use either the entrance off Antelope Road, located between Lauppe Lane and Poplar Avenue, or the park entrance located off of Rosswood Drive.
