The City Park bandstand will need to be completely rebuilt, with an assessment showing the historic structure sustained irreparable damage from a March fire.
The bandstand has been fenced off for months, with scorch marks visible all over the nearly century-old structure. The fire has forced City Park Jazz to use a mobile stage for its summer concert series, and it paused the launch of the new city-run boat and bicycle rental stand.
Denver Parks and Recreation said Monday that a structural assessment of the bandshell found that it is not salvageable and must be torn down. Demolition is planned for the fall.
Local landscape architecture firm Mundus Bishop has been hired to design a new bandstand. The city said it expects a new bandstand to open in time for the 2027 City Park Jazz season.
Meeting the insurance deductible is expected to cost $250,000. Private entities, including local neighborhood groups and the TV news show Next with Kyle Clark, have helped raise $120,000, according to mayoral spokesperson Jon Ewing. While the city will continue to fundraise, the city said it has the money to pay for the rest of the deductible and construction costs.
City staff will be at City Park Jazz on June 28 with Mundus Bishop to discuss the project with community members.
The exact cause of the fire has still not been determined.
