Case made for a restored Acacia Park bandstand: ‘What we’re building is important’
The Rotary Club presented its case for the restoration of the bandshell in Acacia Park to the Colorado Springs City Council during a work session Monday morning.
Rotary Club President Trevor Dierdorff presented the proposal to revitalize the historic performance space along with partners from the nonprofit Downtown Ventures and the city Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. Dierdorff said the city needed a new outdoor venue for small and mid-size performances as a draw for downtown.
“What we’re building is important — a fully reactivated bandshell in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs. A place where people choose to gather, not avoid. A place where strangers become neighbors and neighbors become friends,” Dierdorff said.
The biggest change would be building a new overhanging canopy to expand the covered area of the bandstand. Michelle Winchell from Downtown Ventures said the canopy would not be attached to the bandshell, in an attempt to preserve the 112-year-old stand’s original shape.
Some physical changes would be made to improve the bandstand, including expanding the stage and creating a backstage room for performers to get ready.
The Rotary Club’s project would also create a sloped grass seating area directly outside the bandstand for the audience and a new public bathroom complex nearby. The improvements would be managed by an agreement between the city and the club.
The Rotary Club estimated the renovations would cost around $900,000 in recent emails. Dierdorff said they would begin getting more detailed estimates from contractors in the next few weeks. He also floated that the bandstand could be ready to host shows by the summer of 2027.
u003ca href=u0022https://gazettedev.gazette.com/2025/11/07/major-facelift-of-old-bandshell-in-downtown-colorado-springs-planned/u0022u003eMajor facelift of old bandshell in downtown Colorado Springs planned – Colorado Springs Gazetteu003c/au003e: Case made for a restored Acacia Park bandstand: ‘What we’re building is important’The Rotary Club presentation was one of the first items heard by councilmember Ken Casey, who took the oath of office at the start of Monday’s work session. The morning also included an hour and a half executive session about the Colorado Voting Rights Act and a presentation from Safe Passage, an organization working to help children who have been abused.
