When Mayor Duggan first announced the preservation of the historic bandshell in his March 2021 State of the City Address with the goal of relocating it to another site, he said the city's first choice was Palmer Park (District 2)—as long as the neighbors wanted it there. The initiative was supported by Councilmember Roy McCalister Jr. and preservationists from across the region.

After a handful of 2021 online meetings and one final community meeting with District 2 representatives in August, a final vote was taken and the move to Palmer Park was approved.

Public meetings
4/17/2021 - The City of Detroit/General Services Department first presented their three location options at the People for Palmer Park Annual Meeting which sparked the first public discussion on the pros/cons, concerns and questions some of the surrounding community had about the proposed location.

5/11/2021 - The City then held another presentation and discussion on the bandshell relocation at their online April District 2 Meeting. Some support as well as some concerns arose and the three location options were again discussed. Supporters loved the possibilities of free family-friendly cultural events, while concerns about noise levels and more community engagement in planning and design process were also brought forth.

5/27/2021 - The next DISCUSSION MEETING gave members of the surrounding adjacent neighborhoods the floor to share their thoughts, questions and concerns. Supporters argued that this would be an asset to the community, an arts center and that any type of performance/music could be realistically restricted to the type that would not have higher decibel levels such as jazz, folk and classical. Those opposed were worried about establishing controls on impact to the neighborhood, City enforcement issues that are already a concern and the upkeep and maintenance responsibilities for the bandshell.

AUGUST 2021 - Kim Tandy and District 2 representatives as well as GSD/Detroit Building Authority staff held a FINAL community meeting and the community voted to approve bringing the bandshell to Palmer Park. 
Location will be on 7 Mile Road, east of Pontchartrain but closer to Woodward behind the 12th Precinct. Anticipated parking will be for 82-90 cars and 500-person capacity. It was stressed that there will be more community meetings in the future to discuss management, infrastructure and programming. Once cost is determined, the City will work with partners to manage fees associated with the move. Currently the bandshell is completely disassembled and stored at an unknown location.

About the bandshell structure:

• Heavy timber, wood bolted structure, still in very good condition. City will meet current-day building requirements, transport over to the new site and assemble with same structural integrity.
• The clapboard/plywood siding is in poor condition and will be restored with new materials to replicate.
• The move does not include the single story, back-of-house part of structure, which is also to be rebuilt. A smaller back-of-house likely that would serve the bandshell, loading for performance, storing and a green room.

 

THE PERFORMERS
​Charles & Gwen Scales Quartet
Gwen (vocals) and Charles Scales (keyboards) with drums and sax will perform an array of jazz, soulful, spiritual, and their own original music. Gwen and Charles have shared the stage with artists such as Patti LaBelle, Phyllis Hyman, Najee, and Hamilton Bohannon; and performed for Bill and Hillary Clinton,
various Detroit mayors and Michigan governors, as well as for crowds at the Detroit Jazz Festival, concerts in Japan and the United Kingdom, and regularly at Detroit Unity Temple.

Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi
Detroit-born Yale Strom (violin), Elizabeth Schwartz (vocals, baritone ukulele) and Greg Powell (bass) will perform Klezmer music, a 1000-year old Eastern European musical tradition played at Jewish weddings, parties, and holiday celebrations. It was nearly extinguished during the Holocaust. Yale is an award-winning filmmaker, violinist, composer, writer, photographer, playwright, historian, and one of the world’s leading ethnographer-artist of klezmer music. Elizabeth is an acclaimed vocalist and first woman to sing in NYC’s 125 year-old Eldridge Street Synagogue/Museum. They’ve performed throughout the U.S. and Europe in festivals, Carnegie Hall, jazz clubs, and synagogues.

Thanks to the amazing work and support of District 2 Councilman Roy McCalister Jr. and the City of Detroit, the historic State Fairgrounds bandshell will be relocated a half mile south to Palmer Park.  

“By preserving the bandshell it saves a piece of Detroit history,” said Rochelle Lento, president of People For Palmer Park. “This is a great opportunity to continue the redevelopment and activation of Palmer Park that the City and People for Palmer Park have collaborated on for the past ten years, and to resurrect a positive attribute for the surrounding communities in an exciting way.”

As the new Amazon fulfillment center and indoor transit center for the Detroit Department of Transportation started to take shape at the longtime site of the Michigan State Fairgrounds, plans to demolish the 83-year old bandshell were not well received by the public and after some media attention, and discussions with Amazon, the City and People for Palmer Park, plans were made to disassemble and move the bandshell to its new home in Palmer. Proposed location is in the old back nine of the former public golf course no longer in use, just north of our community garden.

This move will not be done without community input and the City of Detroit and its Department of Neighborhoods will be engaging residents and community organizations like People for Palmer Park closely on this project as funds are raised and design and location are worked out. We will keep you updated as plans progress.

In 2014, we unveiled our Master Plan Proposal for Palmer Park, and having a bandshell was one part of the vision. Being able to repurpose the existing one is an incredible turn of events for our organization and the potential to see families gathering for cultural events here is exciting.

For more on the bandshell move: 
https://detroitmi.gov/news/councilmember-mccalister-mayor-duggan-preserve-historic-state-fairgrounds

As you know, People for Palmer Park (PFPP) has been working very hard over the years to help restore this neglected park. What you may not know is, nestled in the heart of Palmer Park is a Log Cabin. We're excited to share with you an opportunity that will allow PFPP to transform this historical log cabin into an active & magical community gathering space. 
 
The Palmer Park Log Cabin was built in 1895 by Senator Thomas Palmer and his wife Lizzie as their farm and summer vacation home. It was built with a surprising addition for a rustic retreat -- beautiful stained glass windows! They hosted everyone at the Cabin from foreign dignitaries to everyday citizens. Senator Palmer donated Palmer Park and the cabin to the City of Detroit "for the good of everyone." It is this spirit that the People for Palmer Park operate. 
 
The Log Cabin was shuttered by the City in the 1980s and has only been opened once a year, over the past four years, for PFPP's Log Cabin Day. The stained glass windows of the cabin are now in varying states of dire disrepair. One of the greatest challenges in opening the cabin is that the windows are boarded. Once the boards are removed, only the broken, clouded windows remain.  
 
We have launched a campaign to restore the windows so that we can open them more easily and when they are open, let light shine in the cabin.
 
If we are successful in raising $25,000 by the October 28 deadline the Michigan Economic Development Corporation will MATCH our $25,000 allowing us to complete our project of restoring the stained glass windows in the cabin. This will transform the cabin into an active community gathering space in the heart of Palmer Park. 
 
Please visit our Patronicity campaign page to learn more about this wonderful project and make your donation. 
 
We hope that you will join us in supporting this campaign and become a sponsor. 
 
www.patronicity.com/palmerparkcabin