Council gives go-ahead for Mariners Park Rotary bandshell
City council supported a Mariners Park bandshell proposal from the Prince Rupert Rotary Club in principle on March 25.
As the park sits on city-owned land, Rotary needs permission from council to begin work on the performance structure which will be built by the club, but owned by the city.
The Rotary Club will be using funds from a $100,000 estate donation to construct the bandshell according to a letter from Rotary treasurer Bill Nichols.
Community engagement workshops were held by Tourism Prince Rupert in 2023 to determine the best steps for the picturesque park, and the bandshell was a popular suggestion at the sessions.
At the March 25 council meeting, Coun. Barry Cunningham brought up the minor issue of wind, which could affect performers.
“One comment from the public was the exposure of it to a southeast wind and rain,” he said.
“Being up there with electronic gear and wind coming at you instead of away from you, I don’t know if there’s any way we could position it in a different place than where they proposed it, but I love the idea.”
Coun. Nick Adey — a guitar player himself — laughed that his long hair was often blowing in the wind while performing as a much younger man, though he agreed with Cunningham that the city should look into the placement of the bandshell.
“I remember when I had very long hair, a wind coming into my face had quite a dramatic effect,” he joked.
“I actually agree with the comment that it might be problematic.”
With council behind it, Rotary will go ahead with the project, but the matter of placement is still up for discussion.
Seth Forward, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Rupert Northern View
