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KENNEDY PARK BANDSTAND RESTORATION “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” John Muir, The Yosemite (1912) Kennedy Park has been one of Lewiston’s places to play, pray and gather since the early 1800’s. For much of the park’s existence a bandstand has been the focal point for musical events, civic engagements and delight for the eye. The original structure was built in 1868. It was replaced several times since, with the last taking place in 1925. For more than a century, residents flocked to the Band stand for summer concerts, festivals and other commu nity events. It was a place where you could connect with your neighbors a place where people would meet face- to-face to have important conversations, do business, and exchange ideas – and a place to address the masses. From this stage, notable politicians stood to plead for support from the community. Cover postcard sketch of Kennedy Park. Cover inset: Presidential nominee John F. Kennedy visits Lewiston City Park, November 7, 1960, published in Lewiston Evening Journal. Images courtesy of Doug Hodgkin. Downtown Lewiston is in the midst of a tremendous revitalization. New buildings going up, existing buildings being renovated or reconstructed, and at the center of all this activity sits a jewel in Kennedy Park. Aside from the pastoral elegance the bandstand brings to the space, it has the potential to serve for many more years as staging for music, arts and other civic activities. This effort will not only bring the 1925 Bandstand back to its former glory, it will position the structure for another 100 years of community use. Won’t you please join your neighbors and contribute towards this effort? Together, we can raise the funds needed to ensure our grandchildren – and their children as well – will have this legacy to enjoy during their time in Kennedy Park. To obtain more information about this effort, please call Bill Clifford at [PHONE REDACTED] or send him an e-mail at: [EMAIL REDACTED] Our thanks to Smith Reuter Lull Architects for the design and renderings. Map shows current location and proposed move of bandstand. A man enjoys the beauty of Lewiston’s Kennedy Park by the bandstand after is was rebuilt in 1925. Maine Historic Preservation Commission. ---PAGE BREAK--- Beyond the political rallies and musical events, the park was also home to festivals and celebrations. The long- running and popular Franco-American Festival used the Bandstand during the 1970s and 1980s. This leads us to the current Bandstand and maintaining its role as a focal point of Kennedy Park. On November 1, 2011, the Lewiston City Council resolved that: “the bandstand in Kennedy Park is a historic structure closely tied to the history of the community…that renovation or restoration of the bandstand is both appropriate and desired by the community.” To demonstrate its support, the City Council designated up to $75,000 in Community Block Grant Funds currently ap propriated for Kennedy Park improvements to be used to match donations received by the City. So, for every $2 donated to the restoration project by indi viduals and organizations, the city will contribute In addition to those seen here, many other Presidents, candidates for president, state and local politicians have used the Bandstand as a podium for their speeches: Presidential candidates: Henry Cabot Lodge at a rally on November 7, 1960; Hubert Humphrey on October 13, 1964; and Senator Edward Kennedy November 3, 1978. President Lyndon B. Johnson visits Lewiston as part of a 5 state tour, August 20, 1966. Published in the Lewiston Evening Journal, courtesy of Doug Hodgkin. Donors will be recognized at the Bandstand for any gift of $1,000 or more, whether a cash gift, in- kind contribution or combination of both. All gifts will be recognized on the City of Lewiston website. DONOR OPPORTUNITIES In support of this project they are: 1- TIN ROOF BANDSTAND NAMING SPONSOR 1 available at $50,000 2- LIGHTNING ROD SPONSOR 1 available at $25,000 3- SUPPORT POST SPONSORS 8 available at $10,000 ea. 4- FOUNDATIONAL SPONSORS 24 panels around base available at $5,000 ea. 5- LATTICE LEVEL SPONSORS Unlimited available at $1,000 ea. DONOR INFORMATION Additional project information, ways to do nate, and donor recognition for the down- town Kennedy Park Bandstand Restoration is available at: http://www.lewistonmaine. gov/DocumentCenter/View/3490 For information on pledging a donation, please contact: Heather Hunter, Treasurer Kennedy Park Bandstand Restoration William Clifford, Chair David Clifford Heather Hunter, Treasurer Jack Milo, Lee Myles and Fredda Wolf This project has been approved by the Lewiston Historic Preservation Review Board and is a City of Lewiston Housing and Urban Development project. KENNEDY PARK BANDSTAND RESTORATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS