Dixon City Council to receive proposal to name plaza stage after Jon Pardi

Construction on the second phase of the Pardi Market Plaza is underway, and the Dixon City Council will receive an update at its Tuesday meeting on the overall plans to convert the site of an old grocery store into a mini town square with a performance stage, picnic tables, walking patchers, water fountain and clock tower.

As part of this update, the council will consider a request to name the stage after the grandson of the original Pardi Market proprietor — and one of Dixon High School’s most famous graduates — country singer Jon Pardi.

The update is the next step in the city’s longtime plans to remodel the corner of East A and South First streets, which had been the site of grocery store Pardi Market and a series of service stations from 1936 to 1978. Following the store and station’s closures, the site had sat empty until both were razed in the early ’90s. For the next 20 years, the location served as a gravel lot as the city considered ways to revitalize it.

Finally, in 2016, the city entered into a professional services agreement with Foothill Associates for project management, planning and engineering services related to what has become known as the Pardi Market Plaza Project. The approved design called for more than 20 parking spaces and shade structures with a community plaza featuring a bandstand, clock tower, pergolas and more.

Groundbreaking began in 2019, and the first phase was completed in July 2020. This initial phase consisted of 22 parking spaces, walking paths, decorative LED lighting, trash enclosures, receptacles and a perimeter sound wall.

The second phase will include construction of the bandstand and stage, entryway arch, clock tower, shade structures, picnic tables, benches, a drinking fountain, planting and irrigation. According to a staff report by City Manager Jim Lindley, the council authorized the second phase of construction and execution of an agreement with Lister to the tune of $982,167 and established a construction contingency of $96,384.

This phase is already under construction and is fenced off to the public. Construction is expected to be completed by January and will be presented to the council for acceptance on Jan. 18. The contractor is required to maintain the landscape for 90 days after the council’s acceptance, Lindley wrote. In the event of a lengthy period of rain in December and January, the contractor may decide to keep the fence up until the weather allows for it to be removed.

Moreover, Lindley wrote that it will be very slow for plants to be added to this process as the time of year is a dormant period for plants. Once the fence is removed, a dedication ceremony will be held.

One item that has been proposed is naming the stage “Jon Pardi Stage,” after the 2003 Dixon High graduate and Nashville recording artist whose grandfather, George Pardi, owned the original Pardi Market.

Before being launched into country stardom, Jon Pardi sang at numerous events in his hometown, from the Dixon May Fair to performances at his high school. Upon graduating DHS in 2003, Pardi formed his own band at Butte College in Chico and then moved to Nashville to launch a solo career.

Pardi released his first album, “Write You a Song,” in 2014, which led to him opening for country superstars such as Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson. In 2016, he released his multiplatinum album “California Sunrise,” which featured his first two Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 hits, “Dirt on My Boots” and “Head Over Boots,” the latter of which became the top country airplay single of that year.

Other hits for Pardi have included “Up All Night,” “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” “Night Shift,” “Heartache Medication” and “Ain’t Always the Cowboy.” Along the way, Pardi would continue to serve as the opening act for singers like Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert and has had his own headlining tours.

In 2017, Pardi returned to his high school alma mater for its Decision Day, an event honoring the school’s seniors and their post-high school plans. After encouraging the Dixon High student body to pursue their dreams, he played a few of his own songs and an acoustic rendition of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”

If the name for the stage is approved, the council will also be asked to approve tile artwork with a personal message from Pardi. Approval of the artwork would trigger a change order for the project, as the tiles are expected to cost $5,500 based on a quote from the company, and installation would amount to $3,000, Lindley wrote. Both expenses would come out of the construction budget for Phase 2 of the project.

In other business, the council will declare the results of the Nov. 2 special election, in which Kristin Janisch was elected city clerk. This will be followed by a swearing-in ceremony for Janisch.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 600 E A St. The meeting can also be viewed online at Cityofdixon.us/MeetingAgendasMinutesVideos.