Bandshell benches still under construction
Not completed, but much of the work of installing new seating at the bandshell and related enhancements has been accomplished. Photo by Patrick Lester
The old plank benches -- as they looked when Wareham learned that grant money would fund accessibility improvements. File photo.
Approaching the bandshell from Union Street, visitors will be greeted with a new path and solar-sensitive lights. Photo by Patrick Lester
Much of the funding for improvements at the bandshell came from local Community Preservation Act funs. Photo by Patrick Lester
The view of the bandshell stage from soon-ready-for-an-audience seats. Photo by Patrick Lester
Not completed, but much of the work of installing new seating at the bandshell and related enhancements has been accomplished. Photo by Patrick Lester
The old plank benches -- as they looked when Wareham learned that grant money would fund accessibility improvements. File photo.
Approaching the bandshell from Union Street, visitors will be greeted with a new path and solar-sensitive lights. Photo by Patrick Lester
Much of the funding for improvements at the bandshell came from local Community Preservation Act funs. Photo by Patrick Lester
The view of the bandshell stage from soon-ready-for-an-audience seats. Photo by Patrick Lester
Summer's in full swing but construction at the Lillian Gregerman Bandshell in Onset continues -- nearly two weeks after the venue's seating improvements were scheduled to be completed.
In May, the town estimated that the project would be completed by July 1. On July 14, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan described the bandshell project as nearing completion.
The project is being undertaken with a $250,000 grant to make the seating and walkways at the band shell compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The town is removing and replacing the bandshell's existing bench planks and making walkways more accessible at the site.
The bandshell construction is anticipated to be "substantially completed" by the end of the week of July 20, Sullivan wrote in an email to Wareham Week. He added that the completion date depends on when the town receives fabricated metal railings for the site.
Sullivan wrote that because the project was funded by a grant, the money had to be expended by June 30. He called the situation a "catch 22" because the town received grant funding in January and couldn't wait until the fall to build or the funding would be lost.
"We understand that the construction disrupted some plans but believe completing the project was the most important thing," Sullivan wrote in his email.
The closure of the bandshell has impacted several events hosted at the site this summer. In particular, the closure has forced Onset's Summer of Love concerts to move to their rain location at the Onset VFW for several weeks.
Onset Bay Association Executive Director Kat Jones said that concert attendees want to be back at the bandshell and that, while the VFW is a "fantastic" venue, it's not the same as the bandshell.
"With any luck, we'll be back there for Grateful Dead night," Jones said. Grateful Dead Night is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5.
In addition to the Summer of Love concerts, the bandshell is set to host the Onset Cape Verdean Festival, which draws tens of thousands of attendees from all over the country. This year, the gathering is scheduled for Saturday, August 8.
