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Groundbreaking conjures up thoughts of warm summer nights
Despite donning winter coats, enduring 20-degree windchills and dodging snow flurries for the occasion, Greencastle park enthusiasts' smiles foretold thoughts of warm summer nights and music in the park to come as ground was broken on the new bandshell at Robe-Ann Park Monday evening.
If the weather finally cooperates, the project is expected to be completed by May 28 in time for the first concert of the silver anniversary season of ParkFest, set to begin Tuesday, May 29 at Robe-Ann Park.
"We are fortunate here in Greencastle to have a vibrant music scene and Robe-Ann Park has been home base for outdoor music for decades," Jessica Hartman, Friends of the Park president, said in a brief ceremony under shelterhouse No. 1 before supporters of the bandshell project adjourned to lower ground for a ceremonial groundbreaking.
Hartman noted that when the old bandshell had to be removed last spring, a committee was formed to organize efforts to replace the structure.
"Early on, we knew we wanted to create a unique attraction that is both functional and visually appealing in the heart of the park," she said of the $125,000 project funded essentially by grants and donations.
The new facility will have an elevated stage with native timber and limestone finishes.
"It will be a new gathering place for music, celebrations and family get-togethers," Hartman predicted.
Park Director Rod Weinschenk took that a step further.
"I think this will be a focal point for activities at Robe-Ann Park," he said of the new bandshell to be built by Spiker Excavating.
Hartman praised the community for its backing of the project.
"The amount of outreach from the community to see this project through has been tremendous," Hartman said. "Whether cash donations, grants, fundraisers or donations of labor and materials, this truly has been a grassroots effort. Friends of the Park has been the 'umbrella' organization but we couldn't do it without our partners."
Those partners have been the City of Greencastle and the Parks and Recreation Department, Greencastle Civic League, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), Putnam County Convention and Visitor Bureau (PCCVB), 100 Women Who Care, Bridges Wine Bar, Scoggins Design, Civil Engineering Consultants, Hoffman Engineers, Earth Exploration, ASA Land Surveying, Pingleton Sawmill and Spiker Excavating.
Friends of the Park funding totals were $102,846, Hartman noted, with a $50,000 grant from OCRA, $30,261 from the Civic League, a $20,000 grant from the PCCVB and $2,585 from Friends of the Park.
The city is finalizing costs for its portion this week, she added.
The total structure cost is approximately $125,000 plus site costs.
While the group is "working toward having it ready for ParkFest, it is anticipated there could be delays in custom material orders," Hartman said.
The Civic League will follow up with its ParkFest schedule announcements but is believed to be working on a contingency plan should the bandshell not be ready in time for the opening concert.
Spiker Excavating is the contractor for the FOTP portion of the project. Spiker will break ground later this week, with foundation work scheduled for Friday.
"We should see steady progress from that point," Hartman said, "until we're ready for delivery of timbers and limestone."
The old bandshell, which was erected in time for the nation's Bicentennial celebration in 1976, was razed in February 2017 after the failing condition of the structure was discovered during repair attempts when a workman put his hand through the rotting roof as he leaned onto it for support.
The new bandshell will be larger and oriented a little more to the northeast rather than the due west location that often forced the audience to look into the sun during some summer programs.