Green Concert Lives Up To Name
September 9th, 2007
Reported by: Duffie Dixon
Dave Matthews Band was the headline act for The Green Concert at Piedmont Park on Saturday, September 8, 2007. The event helped raise more than $1 million for the park's expansion, which is set to begin later this fall.
The special guest who joined Dave Matthews Band was Georgia's own The Allman Brothers Band, who last played in the Park more than 30 years ago with the Grateful Dead and Delaney & Bonnie. The sold out concert drew more than 50,000 fans and with absolutely no parking on-site or in surrounding neighborhoods, concert organizers urged everyone to take MARTA, walk or bike to get to the park.
The Green Concert for Piedmont Park was the latest in a series of special concerts Dave Matthews Band has played to benefit some of the United States' most treasured parks, including New York City's Central Park and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
"As a band, we've always found playing in an historic park to be a remarkable experience," said Dave Matthews. "Given Piedmont Park's rich legacy of outdoor concerts, we're particularly honored to be chosen along with The Allman Brothers Band to help the Conservancy expand the park."
In conjunction with the event, fans experienced an interactive environmental village where fans saw the latest green initiatives and got easy-to-implement tips on how they could help the environment. Sponsors including AT&T, Anheuser-Busch, BBDO Atlanta, Coca-Cola, Delta, and Turner, contributed green-focused offerings, such as text-to-screen "green" pledges and giving away seedling packets to every attendee.
"We are very pleased to partner with Dave Matthews Band and The Allman Brothers Band for this historic event, but The Green Concert is about more than just raising money for the park," said Debbie McCown, president and CEO of the Conservancy. "We have the unique opportunity to raise awareness of issues facing the environment, and to encourage fans to make a difference by committing to healthy change."
McCown said the Conservancy, which in 2006 adopted a new policy on sustainability, has taken every reasonable step to ensure that The Green Concert lives up to its billing.
There were recycling centers throughout the venue, food and beverage vendors will be using biodegradable and recyclable materials, bio-diesel fuel will power generators, and fans that needed to withdraw cash during the concert did so using solar powered ATMs.
Piedmont Park Conservancy is a private non-profit organization, working in partnership with the City of Atlanta to maintain and enhance the Park as a vital, urban green space and as a cultural and recreational resource for all Atlantans to enjoy.
Founded in 1989, the Conservancy has invested more than $23 million in private funds for Park improvements, and today manages more than 90 percent of its maintenance and security.
Mayor Shirley Franklin commented, "The City of Atlanta is committed to working with organizations like Piedmont Park Conservancy to improve parks and green space. With this concert, we can help to expand 53 acres of additional parkland, something that is essential to our future quality of life."