Park is an indie rock band from Springfield, IL, formed in the ’90s. Known for blending emo, post-hardcore, and pop with thoughtful lyrics, they were often described as a mix between Alkaline Trio and Midtown. Despite frequent lineup changes, the core of the band remained vocalist/guitarist Ladd Mitchell and guitarist Justin Valenti.

Their debut EP, Random and Scattered, was recorded in 1999 and released in 2000 on Middle America Records—by which time the band had already broken up and re-formed with a new lineup, including drummer Miles Logan and bassist Tim Costello. The EP caught the attention of Lobster Records (home to early Yellowcard), who signed them soon after.

Park’s label debut, No Signal (2001), produced by Cameron Webb (Lit, Social Distortion), led to extensive U.S. touring. After some lineup shuffling—including the addition of bassist Alex Haycraft—they returned to the studio with Webb for 2003’s It Won’t Snow Where You’re Going, which was well received and followed by another year of heavy touring.

In 2006, Park released their third album, Building a Better _____, featuring the emotionally charged “Mississippi Burning,” written about the murder of Olamide Adeyooye. Valenti departed post-recording to attend medical school, replaced by guitarist Aaron Bickle. However, in early 2007, Mitchell left the band for personal reasons, and Park played their final show in May of that year.