With new donation pledges, Riverside bandstand canopy faces yet another City Hall decision

It would seem everything’s a ‘go’ on a new canopy over the Riverside Park bandstand in La Crosse.

With new fuel in the engine for a canopy, a consortium is ready for yet another decision by the city’s park board on the project tonight.

Terry Bauer is leading the canopy effort and is riding high after landing a $100,000 commitment from the Stry Foundation to fund the structure.

That puts the effort halfway toward its $500,000 goal for the project, and makes it that much more real when it comes to dealing with City Hall.

“It does add credibility, yes,” Bauer said. “When you can walk in and say that at this point in time, it’s a big plus in our lobbying the city to work with us.”

Everything seems in order:

• Donations are rolling.
• A design has been approved by the city’s park board and heritage preservation commission.
• The community is full of supporters.

But, there’s still a steady current of resistance against the project in City Hall.

Bauer said he has no doubt the project will rise above the forces trying to kill it.

“We have community support. We have funding lined up. We have a great design,” Bauer said.

The canopy is set to be installed over a refurbished bandstand next spring.