December 27, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.
Rhinelander Area Community Band looking at a move to Pioneer Park
Rhinelander Area Community Band looking at a move to Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park is the new site and either the current bandshell will be relocated to the park or a new structure will be built.
"It's just real preliminary right now," said Jan Leschke, a representative for the Rhinelander Area Community Band. "It's better to start now though because it will take time and money."
The matter was brought before city officials this past week at a Parks, Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting. The committee gave the OK for the band to start pursuing a move to Pioneer Park.
"We wanted to get the blessing of the city first," Leschke said. "There's a lot of legwork still. We don't have any drawings (for the building) yet. It's going to be a long haul before we build anything but you have to start someplace. If it takes a few years then I guess it takes years. Hopefully, once we get the word out, plans will start to come together."
Leschke said the next step is likely the formation of a fundraising committee for the project.
"That's how we got the current bandshell," she said. "Prices, of course, have gone up since we built (it in 1997) and we probably had about 90 percent of it done by volunteers. I don't know if we'll be that lucky again. That would save us a lot of money."
The city's sewer interceptor project that occurred this past summer disrupted the area around the current bandshell. While the site will be restored, Leschke said the band decided that it is no longer the best location for a performance venue.
She said the group is looking at building a completely new bandshell, but alderman Tom Kelly inquired about the possibility of simply moving the current structure to Pioneer Park.
"We hadn't really considered that but if we moved it, it would have to be enlarged anyway," Leschke said. "When the band is in the current one, it's really crowded. We can hardly fit in there."
The exact size of the new bandshell is yet to be determined.
"It will take some time to determine the size and how much money we want to spend. Our band director would probably know more about things like sound quality," Leschke said. "But before we started we wanted to make sure it was OK with the city."
Chair of the Parks Committee Sherrie Belliveau said a bandshell would be a good addition to the Pioneer Park facilities.
"We think it would be a good fit with the Oneida County Fair being there (every August)," Belliveau said. "Then it would be available for the fair organizers to use as well."
Anyone interested in helping with the project, can contact Leschke at (715) 362-7157.
Kyle Rogers may be reached at [email protected].
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