Community Corner

Richfield Commission Picks Veterans Park as Best Bandshell Venue

A benefit concert and a public presentation of the project are coming up this week.

For nearly a decade, the City of Richfield has been toying with the idea of creating a music venue within the city. And now, with the work of some dedicated individuals, Veterans Memorial Park is being recommended as the building site for a bandshell.

According to Richfield Parks and Recreation Director Jim Topitzhofer, the Richfield Community Services Commission was charged with looking at all aspects of the project.

"[The commission has] been looking at various factors—how big it should be, where to put it, what kinds of uses will it have, how much it will cost," Topitzhofer told Richfield Patch.

Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Topitzhofer said Veterans Memorial Park is being recommended for a number of reasons, including its visibility from 66th Street, access to highways, proximity to restrooms and, of course, the fact that the park is the venue for the city's annual Fourth of July celebration. If the site was approved, the bandshell would actually be built where the performance stages are typically set up for the Fourth of July festivities, near the Richfield Ice Arena.

"Currently, we have to rent the stages [and all the sound equipment]," Toptizhofer said.

Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Obviously, the bandshell would provide the correct hardware for sound and lights, eliminating the need for rentals.

The bandshell would also provide a home for the city's summer concert series, Concerts in the Park, and the Richfield Symphonic Band, as well as a venue for other acts and community activities. The community services commission is actually being led by long-time symphonic band member, David Butler.

The commission is holding a open house of sorts to present its initial plans for the project and gain resident feedback at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Richfield Community Center. In addition, a benefit concert to raise money for the project is being held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 at Richfield United Methodist Church.

For more information on the project, contact Topitzhofer at 612-861-9394.

Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here