Plans to build a new bandshell in Arnolds Park in the great lakes region of northwest Iowa have been put on hold over financing. Arnolds Park would have had to pony up $250,000 for the bandshell on top of a one-million-dollar donation from the Messengers of Healing Winds Foundation. Historic Arnolds Park General manager Scott Pyle says economic factors played a big role in the decision by the board of directors.

Pyle says they knew it was going to be a big project, but it just got to be a little larger than they anticipated and they couldn’t justify taking on the additional debt with the current economy. Pyle says this decision follows a mantra the board has followed for years.

He says the board of directors and management made a commitment several years ago to not take on any projects they didn’t have the funding identified for, and this was one of those cases. Pyle says they don’t feel justified in moving forward until they identify the money. In addition to upkeep there should be some new things at the park this Summer.

Pyle says they are adding a new kiddie ride and one on the adult side of the park. He says there are good things happening, as they are spending their money where it means the most to them at this point. A save the park campaign was held back in 1999 with the community raising $7.25-million dollars, well over the four million dollars needed to keep the park from being replaced by a condominium, hotel, and retail complex.

By Ryan Long, KICD, Spencer