Benny Westcott
The city of Sweet Home is seeking to raise $66,200 from the community to complete the Lower Sankey Park Phase III Project. The project would include a new bandstand to replace the one that was demolished after it fell victim to a falling tree and structural damage.
In current renderings of the proposed new bandstand, the structure would be wooden and slightly elevated, with power, electricity, ADA access, trails running to it, and lighting. The goal is for the structure to be used for family reunions, weddings, bands, or general community events. Terraced ground would be a feature near the bandstand to aid in viewing. The proposed structure is double the size of the previous one.
Phase III would also include ADA accessible trails from lower Sankey Park to Upper Sankey Park, a dirt trail connecting to Ames Creek and lower Sankey Park to upper Sankey Park, path lighting, security cameras, irrigation, a sidewalk on 14th Avenue connecting lower and upper Sankey Park, and benches.
The city’s funding goal for the entire project is $295,993. Approximately $52,713 has been raised internally by the city through its Parks Projects and Improvements budget. The city is applying for $177,080 through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Grant, leaving $66,200 remaining to raise.
Bob Dalton, a Sweet Home Park and Tree Committee member who is helping to spearhead the fundraising effort, said “We feel it’s very obtainable in our community, because our community is one of those that has a ‘go get it done’ type attitude.”
He stressed the importance of replacing the old bandstand. “The bandstand was kind of the focal point [of the park],” he said. “It was the main attraction to Sankey Park for years. I know a lot of families that I’ve talked to that have been here for generations want to see that come back. It means a lot to them personally. And we owe it to them.”
He said the structure was put there generations before us for families to come together to a meeting place.
“Unfortunately time and weather took its toll, so we need to come back with the structure so it provides that place to go back to for the next generations,” he said. “It’s the legacy that was put there before us, and to me it’s our responsibility as a community and as leaders to make sure that we honor and remember that, and it doesn’t get lost. It pays tribute to the people that built this community and our parks. If we don’t leave that legacy behind, who will? It will go away.”
Dalton said that if the city doesn’t get the grant, the project will probably not get completed and a new structure will not be put up at Sankey Park until further down the road.
Dalton has seen the positive changes made at Sankey recently and wants to continue on that path.
“Since that park has been put in the current position it’s in, I’ve seen families go back, where families were missing there for years,” he said. “And since we put so much effort into it, there isn’t a day that goes by that I can’t be by there and see families there with children. It’s wholesome. It’s healthy. We talk about mental health – that’s a piece of mental health right there.”