An aging structure in Waterloo Park has been demolished. The Centennial Band Shell and Amphitheater, known to many as just the bandshell, was built in 1967 for the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The brick structure had an upper shell section with painted plywood and metal cladding, as well as a large concrete pad at the front of the building. The City of Waterloo said it was partially funded by the federal and provincial governments, while the city paid one-third of the $70,000 project. For decades, the bandshell was used as a venue for both concerts and festivals. Why was it demolished? The Waterloo Park Master Plan recommended its demolition due to the age of the structure. “The festivals and events that take place in that area of the park haven’t been making use of the bandshell, it didn’t have the electrical service capacity and structural infrastructure to support the lighting and sound equipment that modern performances require,” city staff explained in an email to CTV News. Now that it’s gone, the parks team is working to update the Waterloo Park Plan. “There will be opportunities for residents to tell us what they’d like to see in terms of potential festival and performance space in the park,” the city said. A replacement, however, will likely be placed elsewhere in the park because the city said the old bandshell was built within the floodplain. Residents are encouraged to visit the region’s website to stay up-to-date and weigh in on the Waterloo Park Plan. www.engagewr.ca/waterloo-park
