Bringing the Bandshell Back: Vincennes Seeks Grant to Restore Gregg Park Landmark

VINCENNES, Ind. (We Are Knox County) - A historic structure in a city park in Vincennes could soon be getting a new lease on life.

The Vincennes City Council has approved applying for a grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, a step that could bring $750,000 toward restoring the nearly century-old bandshell.

If awarded, the funding would address several long-standing issues at the structure while helping transform it back into a place for the community to gather at.

Vincennes Parks and Recreation Superintendent J.R. Field says the bandshell has suffered from years of wear and vandalism.

“The graffiti, for one, is real bad — and the structure itself has been picked apart,” Field told WAKC News Now.

Stones have fallen from the sides of the structure, concrete along the steps is chipped, and some doors have been screwed shut and can now only be opened with a drill.

Beyond those surface issues, the city is also planning major infrastructure upgrades.

Plans include adding security cameras and completely redoing the electrical system, including new outlets at both the front and back of the stage.

“We’ve got to redo the lighting out here. We’re going to put in more lighting,” Field said.

While the bandshell once had working electrical and lighting systems, much of that is no longer functional.

Today, capped wires sit inside open junction boxes, and several lamp posts are missing their globes.

The structure, located at the Gregg Park Bandshell, was built in 1938 and for decades served as a centerpiece for live music and community events.

Field says restoring the bandshell is about more than repairs — it’s about reviving memories and creating new ones.

“We’re going to start having concerts back out here,” he said.

“I remember as a kid, we had them out here all the time.”

Although regular concerts have faded over the years, the music has not stopped completely.

For the past five years, the annual Bandshell Bash has brought people back to Gregg Park to enjoy live performances.

“We’ve had almost a thousand people out here, and it’s nice to see everyone come out and watch the bands,” Field said.

As plans move forward, city leaders want residents to have a voice in what the future of the bandshell — and other city parks — should look like.

Community members are encouraged to complete a survey sharing their ideas and priorities, which can be found on the city’s website.

The Southern Indiana Development Commission assisted the City of Vincennes with the grant application.

SIDC told WAKC News Now a decision could be made, and grants awarded, as soon as mid-February.