Don't allow city centerpiece to become and eyesore

There's less shade and a lot more sunshine in Norris Park, but it's still a great place to enjoy a concert -- especially this summer, which has been relatively cool.

The hundreds of people who attended the recent 43 Army Band right after the Fourth of July holiday weekend can attest to the venue's beauty. The upcoming Hot Summer Nights sponsored by McCook National Bank will reinforce the park's position in community life.

It was ironic that the 43rd Army bank used its own inflatable band shelter and put the main orchestra in that, while one smaller combo used the existing bandshell in the park.

The old bandstand is a centerpiece for the park. While it wasn't immediately known at Monday night's City Council meeting how old the bandshell was, we found an old photo of the structure, with words across the bottom that indicated it was built during World War I.

Our caption pointed out that the structure was built for half of the $6,000 the city has budgeted just to study what it will take to refurbish the old structure.

And refurbishment it needs. The roof has been reshingled, but it's easy to see peeling paint, rotted and missing wood around the eaves, loose stucco, and unusable restrooms (Although others are available nearby).

City manager Kurt Fritch is right when he says it would be cheaper just to tear it down than to try to remodel it.

But he admitted he knew what might happen to someone who suggested replacing the historic building.

We agree that the bandshell is a beautiful, historic part of Norris Park.

But it shouldn't become an eyesore.

We should take careful stock of the bandshell and its condition. Then, we should rebuild it, or replace it with a modern structure that retains the look and character of the near-one hundred year-old icon now in place.

It's too much of a community centerpiece for us to continue to allow it to fall into disrepair.