Editor’s Note: The following story is excerpted from a press release.

UOSF, the event organizer, reported that it was unable reach the threshold of support necessary to sponsor the event this year. The Foundation has recently undertaken and completed a comprehensive three-year strategic plan. The plan has prompted UOSF to refocus their mission on key Madison conservation initiatives-like the creation of a new 25-acre park in the city’s East Rail Corridor. They reported that tough decisions were made in strategic planning and programs not central to their mission needed to be shed. Unfortunately, River Rendezvous was one such program.

Urban Open Space Foundation stated that it remained steadfast in their message to their partners in The River Rendevous (the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Downtown Madison Inc., the Tenney Lapham Neighborhood Association and the City of Madison Parks Division). They believe a free outdoor concert in Tenney Park is a wonderful idea that has the potential to become an isthmus family tradition. While the Foundation stated that they are not in the position to spearhead this event, they encourage others to take the lead in hosting annual outdoor concerts.

-David Mandehr