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New Decking
Putnam Rotarians, left to right: Karen Osbrey, Club Project Chair; Club President John Miller; and Jeff Rawson at the new decking at the Rotary Park Bandstand in Putnam. The club donated the funds for the materials and the town provided the labor for decking replacement. Courtesy photo.


Bandstand
gets new
decking
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM ---  The crown of Rotary Park, the bandstand, was  looking a little tarnished.
The number of events and performances that had taken place on the bandstand stage extension over the last 14 years had taken its toll.
The deck was made of simple plywood and after 14 years, there was warping, rotting and some wear and tear, said Parks and Recreation Director Willie Bousquet. "It was losing integrity," he added.
When the bandstand was first used, Bousquet said, the town realized that an extension was needed.
The stage extension has "just enhanced performances in the park," said Bousquet. But it needed replacing after so many years of service.
The Putnam Rotary Club joined with the town to get the stage extension decking replaced.  Karen Osbrey, the club's project chair, applied for a Rotary District 7890 grant. The club won a grant for $1,750 and added $2,000 from the Putnam Rotary Club's budget. That covered the materials, according to Bousquet. The town kicked in the labor to install the decking.
Osbrey, in her application for the Rotary grant, said the project would benefit the community because it would expose everyone to the arts --- free. Over the years, she said, the facility has hosted "both amateur and professional performances ... everything from high school band and choral concerts, dance recitals, martial arts demonstrations, acrobats and magicians to professional symphonies, opera performances, military bands and Shakespeare in the Park" and  more. "
The decking, which measures 32 by 16 feet,  was replaced with Trex. "It's a nice decking that will last for a long long time," Bousquet said.
"We'll continue to have the ability to accommodate large groups and the ability to accommodate performers," he added.

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