A New Chapter to the Concerts

For over forty years, Pleasanton’s annual “Concert in the Park” series has been a key part of the community. Each summer, Pleasanton’s Downtown Association (PDA) organizes the event, curating local musicians and drawing attention to local fundraisers. This summer, Pleasanton has redeveloped its concert stage to be larger, sturdier, and more accessible. Still, a town as historical as Pleasanton has to balance preserving and up-keeping the past: as population has grown, the town had to make many changes and remodels. 

Big Problems, Bigger Solutions

Accommodating for the town’s growing population means facing issues Pleasanton’s never dealt with before—like catering an event for over several-thousand people. While the new stage was built to increase acoustics, the larger audience is increasingly difficult to accommodate too. 

“We would come up here and there’d barely be any space. So then, sometimes you could hear amazingly—or even too much—and then sometimes, you couldn’t hear a thing,” said Dublin resident and concert attendee, Nikitha Shivaprasad.

Similarly, the new location of the stage—while allowing for more attendees to fit—also gives way for another problem: the sound uniformity. The new stage, expanding from 24,000 square feet to 27,000 square feet, is able to hold more people. Still, projecting the music do an audience of thousands isn’t always possible.

“Right here, [the sound quality] sounds great, because we’re close enough. But I did have some friends that were sitting way back over there, and they did mention that it’s a little harder for the sound to travel,” said Pleasanton resident Sherri Kay. 

Staying Local

 Many complained that the planners did not design the stage’s old location with a larger audience in mind. After moving the stages location, the city’s solution to this issue of space was building a permanent stage to replace the smaller, aging setup that had hosted in past summers. For many, that change has made the event feel more reliable, while still keeping its charm.

“I think [the current stage] is just structurally sound—I feel like the other one was just more of a pop-up stage,” said Shivaprasad.

The changes made to the park did not just focus on growing concert attendance, but also growing community. The PDA made sure to allot some space beneath the stage for a dance floor, giving attendees a place to connect with friends and neighbors. Beyond that, the association also encouraged local clubs and organizations to advertise themselves, giving attendees ways to grow and connect within their community.

“I feel like even the stage layout involves more people. There’s just more people then there was before.” said concert-goer, Nimisha Shivaprasad.

With the constant changes in Pleasanton’s community, the event has been a cornerstone in keeping Pleasanton’s small-town charm alive. As Pleasanton grows, “Concerts in the Park” show that traditions can evolve while staying meaningful—whether through music, reuniting with neighbors, or watching kids dance. For all, the concerts remain a gathering place where the town’s spirit continues to thrive.