Thoughts on the Band Shell

Our community has a rich musical heritage to be sure. We celebrate this heritage at annual events like the band festival and tuba Christmas, and we honor it with outstanding opportunities through our school system, Music Man Square, and our Municipal Band.

I have spoken to a number of our music department teachers at MCHS, and to a person they have proclaimed the inadequacy of the existing band shell due to space constraints and acoustic limitations. In recent years it has not been uncommon for the existing band shell to stand unused while venues instead opt for the Muse Norris mobile stage parked nearby. This in and of itself speaks volumes as to the viability of the existing band shell.

And so roughly ten years ago a group of citizens, with Park Board endorsement, made plans to build a new pavilion at the same location as the existing band shell. Those that wanted to save the existing structure were free to do so, if they could raise the requisite funds. If successful, the band shell would be relocated to the north side of the hill atop which the 457 stands. If not successful, the existing band shell would meet its demise via the wrecking ball.

And as it were, neither those wishing to preserve the band shell, or build the new pavilion, made a great deal of headway in raising funds the past 7 or 8 years. However, funding for design and construction of the new pavilion was included in the successful Vision Iowa application, breathing new life into both the pavilion initiative, and the desire by some to save the existing structure.

1200 plus people (and growing) have signed a petition to not only save the band shell, but to also preserve it at its current location. At the same time, the contingent award of $9,000,000 Vision Iowa funding requires construction of the new pavilion at the site of the existing band shell.

In all honesty, I’m not a real musical guy. My version of carrying a tune is sticking an ipod in my pocket. I have no real passion for the existing band shell, and personally don’t care if it ceases to exist. However, I also realize that a great deal of the passion for the band shell is sentimental, born of the childhood memories of playing in and around the band shell, and listening to the bands of old when times were simpler. I was well into my adult years when we made this community our home, so I do not share these experiences. I can appreciate what these sentiments represent, and so I am in favor of saving the structure in difference to those that care for it so deeply.

Though the proposed location north of the train has been determined to be the best of potential locations in East Park, I’ve never been real excited about that spot. While the structure would be saved, practical use of it would be limited. It’s proximity to the new pavilion would not likely permit concurrent use due to sound/noise constraints. So it would seem to be a most likely candidate for use when the pavilion is not being utilized. However, if that’s the case, the entity needing a venue would more likely select the pavilion over the band shell due to the space and acoustic limitations already identified. So, though the band shell would be saved, it would most likely be relegated to the status of nostalgic relic.

So, why don’t we build the pavilion elsewhere? East Park is the traditional location for our significant community celebrations. It is centrally located, and has the most space and resources for large events. This is the park in which we most often celebrate our musical heritage. This is the best location for the pavilion, which is probably why the band shell was built there in the first place. The Vision Iowa Board likely realized this as well, which may explain why the contingent grant is predicated on building the new pavilion at this location.

At the April 3rd meeting of the Mason City Historic Preservation Commission, Councilman Weaver articulated a potential solution that has been dismissed in the past, but whose time may have come. Weaver suggests we save the existing band shell, relocate it to Ray Rorick Park, and restore it to its original design for historical accuracy. This could take place concurrent with application to place it on the National Register of Historic places. We know this to be possible, as the Stockman House was relocated after it was placed on the National Register.

I think this suggestion is a great idea, and I thank Councilman Weaver for championing the cause. As Weaver envisions, the band shell could be placed on the east side of Big Blue where the topography would seem to be a natural fit. In the summertime, kids and families could float on Big Blue or enjoy the beach, while local bands could entertain from the newly relocated band shell. With recent additions of the skate park, the old ice arena, and utility additions that are in progress right now, this would further enhance what is becoming a wonderful park focused on our youth. And for those that argue that too much time and attention is spent on East Park, this would further enhance a great park in another area of the city.

Just as the Vision Iowa initiative consists of many community groups that have come together for a common cause, I think we need to work to make the save the band shell folks part of the same team. In light of events that were not foreseeable when plans were made nearly a decade ago, it is no longer justifiable to force a group of citizens to raise their own funds to save the band shell or watch its demise. No, we need to make relocation and restoration an integral part of our Vision Iowa program. Mason City has received all of the remaining Vision Iowa funds. The city budget already includes $500,000 for the pavilion (which is currently in out years, and has NOT been formally adopted by the council). So it would seem funding for this additional scope would have to come from incremental private fundraising. Rather than having two local groups competing for funding for related projects, we should roll all these efforts into n expanded initiative and all work together.

We need to also realize that this has both short and long term cost implications. In the short term, we have the incremental cost to move and restore the band shell. In the long term, we must be prepared as a community to invest the requisite maintenance dollars into the parks board budget that have obviously been lacking based upon visual examination of the existing band shell. It is not fair or reasonable to expect the parks board budget to remain fixed while the assets it is expected to maintain grows. If as a community we desire to save, enhance, and expand the venues we have, we must be prepared to accept the cost to properly maintain these assets. Ultimately this materializes through property taxes that are funneled to the parks board for proper application.

Integral to the success of such a compromise is the active participation in fundraising from those clamoring to save the band shell. To be sure, the existing Vision Iowa team has their hands full with commitments that have already been made. The involvement of those that signed the petition working to raise money and help manage this incremental scope will be vital to the success of the overall initiative.

I am hopeful that we can come together as a community and support Councilman Weavers suggestion. The existing location has been determined to be the best spot for an appropriate venue. The new pavilion would remedy all the inadequacies of the existing band shell, and would honor the traditional location of our community celebrations. By moving the band shell to Ray Rorick, we not only save it for posterity, but we reintroduce functional relevance.

The Vision Iowa initiative is huge for Mason City and North Iowa. The Vision Iowa Board has made a significant statement in supporting our application, and the whole state will be watching us. We are positioned to become the community everyone is talking about as energetic, visionary, and progressive. I believe this quality of life initiative can be the instigator of renewed growth in the region. And so, from my perspective, compromise is essential. I will be unable to muster enough passion for the existing band shell to reject $9,000,000 in Vision Iowa funding in favor of maintaining an inadequate structure in a prime location.

In my opinion, Councilman Weavers suggestion represents the most logical, workable compromise I have heard to date, and in the absence of any better ideas, I support it completely. Let’s lock arms and make this work!

Scott Tornquist