Entertainment

Fundraising goal for La Crosse bandshell met, but more needed

Published

5 years ago

May 1, 2019

Pat Stephens speaks about the Rotary bandshell project during a Wednesday news conference at Riverside Park

The fundraising drive to build a bandshell in La Crosse’s Riverside Park has reached its goal but, still, more money is needed for the project.

Fundraising campaign volunteer Pat Stephens said the drive is now up to $520,000 —a bit beyond the original goal of $500,000.

The money-raising, however, will continue with the sale of brick pavers for the bandstand area, which is being remodeled.

The stone pavers can be inscribed with messages or even corporate logos. The smallest ones are 6-by-6 inches and available for at least $500.

Another $330,000 is being sought by June 15 to complete construction of the canopy, which would protect the bandstand stage, but would not cover the concert audience.

Music events in the park are expected to use a temporary stage for most of the summer while the bandshell is built.

Midwest Family Broadcasting, which owns WIZM, is a corporate sponsor of the bandshell project.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.