Nearly 200 community members came out to see the premiere of Together Apart: ParkDay Reunion Documentary. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I was quite impressed by the production—this was very well done. There were photographs I had never seen before. It was stunning,” remarked Irv Logan. Logan was one of five panelists who answered questions during a discussion following the film.
The first public screening of the long-awaited documentary was scheduled as part of Springfield’s Juneteenth Celebration. It was shown in three time slots at the Moxie Cinema in downtown Springfield.
Since the early 1970s, the ParkDay Reunion Celebration has served as a vital reconnection point for Springfield’s African American community. Held each summer on the first weekend of August at historic Silver Springs Park, the event draws travelers from across the United States—many of whom trace their roots back to Springfield, Missouri. It is a multi-day reunion featuring music, performances, a parade, sporting tournaments, and a car show.
The origins of this annual gathering trace back to a time of segregation, when Silver Springs was the only park in Springfield where African American children and families were allowed to gather. It was a time when the swimming pool was spring-fed, baseball was king, neighbors looked out for one another, and elders kept a watchful eye. And then, of course, there was the food—each church had its specialty, and the smell of barbecue from neighborhood grills filled the air.
The documentary is a collaborative production between Plotline Film & Media Education, Timmons Hall/Springfield-Greene County Park Board, and UniteNews Magazine. The team began meeting and filming in the summer of 2022 and has continued to collaborate throughout the project. The film shares the history of Silver Springs Park and the ParkDay Reunion through the voices of those who lived it—organizers, descendants, and present-day history keepers.
Plans are underway for the film to be presented in Silver Springs Park during the annual ParkDay Reunion Weekend Celebration. A dedicated website will also launch, where the film can be viewed on demand and additional behind-the-scenes content will be available.
Funding for this film project was made possible by the Springfield Regional Arts Council, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and the Missouri Humanities Council (MHC). The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
