By Ben Flanagan

Collins Chapel Park will host an evening of gospel singing next Saturday featuring Gene Lowery and the Samaritans among several other performers.

The slate also includes the Hoggle Family, Adrian and Mattie Barrington, Percy Scott and Fishers of Men and Gary McKee and Dana Bond. The singing begins at 3 p.m. on April 10.

Along with entertaining the community, park board of directors member Betty Benson said the idea is to also raise money for park maintenance.

Patrons can purchase hamburgers and hot dogs and bid during a cake auction — all designed to raise money for the park.

Benson said the park is not state or federally funded and only maintained by community donations, so any support helps.

“We’re actually just trying to get our community together and take an interest in the park,” she said. “We need donations to keep this park going.”

The park has a walking track, swings and slides for children, a picnic area and a pavilion. Benson said donations would also allow the board to purchase more playground equipment for children to use.

“It’s just a nice little park,” she said. “It means a lot to me because I helped start it.”

With more funds, she said they plan to improve the asphalt on the walking track.

Benson said the Chilton County Commission gave the land to Collins Chapel exclusively for a county park.

The park has hosted one larger scale event in the past, a Collins Chapel Junior High School reunion. The park used to be the site of that school.

Benson encourages people to bring lawn chairs due to limited seating.

Admission to the event is free. Benson said any use of the park is also free, though residents must reserve the pavilion ahead of time.

Donations will be accepted at the event.

The park is located south of Thorsby off of County Road 29 on the right before the Collins Chapel Fire Department.