City will study the cost of saving, fixing Windsor's iconic Jackson Park bandshell
This move means there'll be a feasibility study, and the public will have a say
Windsor's iconic Jackson Park bandshell will be professionally assessed to figure out what condition the crumbling venue is in — as people are asked what they think should be done with the structure.
Council decided at a meeting Monday to hire consultants for a condition and feasibility study. This will include public consultations after hearing from delegates who called the site a key piece of the city's history.
The bandshell hosted massive Emancipation Day celebrations that drew thousand of people from across Windsor-Essex and the United States who heard speeches from civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.
Leslie McCurdy, performance artist and chair of the Black Council of Windsor-Essex, urged council to find a way to revive the bandshell.
"It is very important to the Black community of Windsor," said McCurdy.
Getting the bandshell back to its glory days will be a multi-million dollar project, according to the city's executive director of parks and facilities.
Debate called divisive, confusing
A committee of council had recommended that city staff consult with the public at a cost of $15,000 and report back to council in nine months.
Instead, the city will spend an estimated $100,000 to complete a feasibility study alongside public consultations. City staff, meanwhile, are tasked with finding out what the public school board plans to do with Windsor Stadium.
The track field backs on to the site of the bandshell which, according to Mayor Drew Dilkens, limits what the site can be in the future.
WATCH | Coun. Kieran McKenzie and Mayor Drew Dilkens debate future of Jackson Park bandshell
"I absolutely have enough information to know that bandshell in that location will not work," said Dilkens.
He said that the bandshell could not be brought back in its current form facing the Windsor Stadium because of a berm built between the two structures.
The mayor also characterized the debate among councillors as divisive.
"Everyone's setting up a win or lose here and it ought not to be," he said.
That was in response to questioning of delegates from councillors Kieran McKenzie and Mark McKenzie.
Kieran McKenzie, who presented the motion later approved by council, took issue with the mayor's characterization.
"Frankly I disagree with many of the things you just said," he said.
Before proposing his motion, McKenzie took a moment to address the exchange.
"The reason for whatever amount of interest or passion that I'm feeling about the issues is because I recognize and I think we all do is how significant that bandshell is."
During a lengthy question period with administration, councillors debated if there needs to be public consultation before the feasibility study happens.
Keep it in place or break it down?
Coun. Fred Francis, who called the debate confusing, sought clarification on what would be required to get the bandshell activated for performances, something each of the three delegates mentioned in their presentations.
Administration said that would require an assessment of the bandshell's condition.
Some councillors suggested that bricks from the bandshell could be used as part of structures built in other parts of Windsor to honour the history.
That was met by disapproving groans from the audience.
Coun. Renaldo Agostino voted against the motion, saying he wanted public consultation before a feasibility report.
Bandshell currently used for storage
He said he expects that report to suggest that fixing the bandshell will cost as much as $5 million.
Coun. Fabio Costante supported the successful motion.
"Fundamentally this is about ensuring a robust process," he said.
"I think the bandshell deserves at the very minimum this type of process."
Staff said that the bandshell doesn't have sufficient electricity. It was last used for a sanctioned event in the 1990s and is currently used for storage.
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