(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Gazebo Troubles

Gazebo to stay along the riverbank as artistic feature

Sep 30, 2021 | 1:10 PM

This summer the city has seen many cases of vandalism at the gazebo on River Street West beside the Historical Museum and has asked residents to provide solutions to the problem.

At Monday night’s council meeting, councillors discussed the option of moving the gazebo to a more picturesque location at Little Red River Park.

The city had the option to ask for the community services department to bring forward a report at a future meeting on what the cost of re-locating the gazebo would be and would provide suggestions for the gazebos location, the cost to lay the foundation, and the report would provide insight from the Historical Society.

That option was voted down by councillors, 6-3.

Councillors Don Cody, Blake Edwards, and Ted Zurakowski were in favour of receiving the report while Charlene Miller, Terra Lennox-Zepp, Tony Head, Dennis Ogrodnick, Dawn Kilmer, and Mayor Greg Dionne voted against seeing the report with councillor Tony Head saying “He would not waste administration’s time to ask them of this.”

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In the past, the gazebo has been referred to as the “historical gazebo” which is a name that was quickly cleared up.

“There is nothing historic about that gazebo on the river bank,” Councillor Ogrodnick said. “The historical bandstand that sat here, was actually used by the Prince Albert band back in the day.

“Should it be moved? No. If we want to build photographic architectural designs out at Little Red, let’s do that. Let’s do it so it fits with the historic nature of that park and let’s tie it into the Dakota peoples ways of life and knowledge. Let us do something like that. Let’s not just take a structure off the riverbank that some of us are not happy with, and move it. Let’s deal with the situation.”

Ogrodnick added that the city can become a really positive place if issues in the city are dealt with and said if the gazebo is left where it is that lunchtime concerts and other shows can be scheduled.

“I think this has merit in it to get the information in front of us so we can make an informed decision,” Councillor Zurakowski replied. “If this motion said to move it, I would vote against that as well. But, what we are looking for is to ask the questions and get the information.”

He added that he agrees the gazebo on the riverbank can lead to more opportunities regarding more partnerships, and bringing more people there.

“This is a main attraction and one of the primary pieces of art we have on our riverbank, so if anything we should want to add to it and not take it away,” Councillor Head said.

The city will now look to new solutions to best solve social issues being experienced along the river bank.

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dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8