RUMFORD — An effort by EnvisionRumford to build a community bandstand in the downtown Veterans Memorial Park will soon get underway.

As part of the Making Headway In Your Community program, residents voted May 23 for the bandstand. It was among 10 ideas pitched for a community project.

The Making Headway program has provided $1,000 in cash toward the project, with the stipulation that the project be completed this summer. There will be a local match, which can be met with labor and materials, as well as donations.

Rumford is one of five communities selected for the program this year, which is funded by the Maine Development Foundation and Grow Smart.

Randy Therrien of EnvisionRumford said Bernie Pare of Rumford, the lead builder for the bandstand, may begin construction by Aug. 13.

The estimated cost for the covered 12- by 16-foot bandstand is a little over $2,300. Donations from individuals and businesses are needed to make up the difference in funding. An effort is also being made to get other organizations involved with the project.

Donations can be made by seeing Therrien at his office at KeyBank on Congress Street.

Therrien said one local business, Puiia Lumber, has agreed to donate 10 percent of whatever materials EnvisionRumford spends with them on the project.

Permission was also needed from Brookfield Renewable Power, which has the right of way to the area near the park. Therrien said Brookfield representative Brian Smith indicated that the company is willing to participate and possibly donate funds for the bandstand.

The bandstand will be on the left side of the park near a white building that has electricity and the least noise from the falls. Brookfield has also approved painting the building.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net

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