On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Great Bend City Council approved the recommendation to bring the Oozefest Mud Volleyball tournament back to Veterans Memorial Park for this year’s Party in the Park. The council also approved the recommendation to not have fireworks at Party in the Park this year.

City Administrator Logan Burns said the mud volleyball pit will be located just to the west of the Splash Pad. “It is a bare spot now,” he noted.

Councilwoman Tina Mingenback asked Burns to share what he told her about re-seeding the area afterward to reduce dust and regrow the grass.

Burns said that is the plan. By adding irrigation and hydroseed, “We could get it back up and looking good.”

He asked Public Lands Director Scott Keeler to comment. Keeler said timing has always presented challenges but irrigation will help.

Councilwoman Jolene Biggs concluded, “I think it’s worth a try.”

Mud volleyball brings 1,000 to 2,000 extra people to the event and it hurt attendance at Party in the Park when it was moved to the Expo grounds last year, Burns said, reading the recommendation that came out of a recent work session.

There will be showers near the pit and muddy contestants will be advised not to enter the Splash Pad, which is fenced off. There were concerns that excessive mud might damage the pumps on the new water feature.

“We’ll try it for one year,” he said.

By eliminating fireworks, the city will save $5,000. Staff would like to use that money to have three bands play for the concert at the end of the Party.