As a devoted clarinet player, music lover and loyal Richfield resident, David J. Butler says the city deserves a better site for concerts than the concrete slab that now hosts music groups in Augsburg Park.
He would like the city to have a bandshell, like Bloomington, Edina and other nearby cities do.
"The acoustics on the cement slab are terrible," Butler said. "Bands would come here and play for free if we had a decent bandshell."
Richfield City Council members have not approved a bandshell, but have supported exploring the possibility of building one, said Jim Topitzhofer, city recreation services director.
A city strategic plan and a parks master plan both mention a bandshell, and the city has earmarked $250,000 in 2014 municipal liquor store proceeds to a bandshell fund. The total cost would be an estimated $1 million, meaning about $750,000 would have to be raised privately.
Now the city wants to know what residents think. A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Richfield Community Center, 7000 Nicollet Av. S., to gauge interest.
Butler leads a small planning group that has been exploring building a bandshell in Veterans Park, near the city's Ice Arena. Nearby are a large parking lot, restrooms and concessions. A bandshell could be built next to the park's lake, Topitz- hofer said.
He said if a bandshell is built, it would be simple: a stage with a backdrop, a roof and a sound system.