The bandstand has been a central feature of Thomas Centennial Park in downtown Chesterton since 1924, becoming an iconic community landmark.

But the Northwest Indiana weather over so many seasons has taken its toll. The fascia is peeling off, roof shingles are fraying, the stairs should be replaced and the electrical system needs an upgrade.

Chesterton Parks Superintendent Tyler McLead proposed what he called a “community approach” to address all the issues. The Park Board Tuesday agreed and endorsed his plan for the renovation project that’s expected to cost $30,000.

The Chesterton High School Trades program will be deployed to help build new stairs and handrails, along with inside benches. The high school trades program has done work for the Parks Department before, building a huge storage shed and a shelter out at Dogwood Park.

The use of high school students hearkens back to when the bandstand was built. In 1924, local contractors donated the labor while the downtown merchants paid for the materials.

McLead said that contractors will be hired to do the roofing and fascia work and to perform the electrical work.

The bandstand is one of the few remaining of its kind in Indiana.

One unusual feature of Chesterton’s bandstand is its octagon shape and peaked roof. Most bandstands built in that era were square.

The Park Board also approved another project related to Thomas Centennial Park, restoring the clock at the corner of South Calumet Road and Broadway.

The Verdin Company of Cincinnati will be paid $15,583 to restore the clock.

While the clock has an antique-like appearance, it was installed in 2002. McLead said that the town should be able to get 15 to 20 additional years from the restoration.

Buying a new clock would have cost around $24,600, so McLead recommended the restoration option.

The Park Board also approved its five-year master plan for projects they would like to see accomplished. Altogether, projects roughly estimated to cost $6.6 million were identified and prioritized depending on the availability of funds.

“The challenge on our end is how we deliver some of these bigger items while still maintaining our infrastructure,” McLead said.

One big change since the last time the Park Board did a master plan is the Duneland Family YMCA’s renovation of the Chesterton Middle School building into a Healthy Living Campus, said Chuck Lehman of Lehman & Lehman in Mishawaka, who is the town’s consultant on the plan.

As part of that project, the 20-acre Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park will be developed on the old athletic fields. The Dunbar Pavilion will be a feature, along with trails.

The 8-acre Chesterton Park is east of the Y’s Healthy Living Campus. During the past few years, the town has developed pickleball courts, new restrooms and improvements to the splash pad.

McLead said he regularly talks with Y officials because the goal is for facilities at the Chesterton Park to complement the Y and the Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park.

Chesterton last year unsuccessfully tried to obtain a state Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant to pay for an inclusive playground, designed to accommodate children with physical challenges.

The town will try again to obtain a federal grant to help pay for an inclusive playground. The Park Board Tuesday approved McLead’s plan to apply for a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant to finance the playground.

The estimated cost of the playground is $750,000. A small outdoor venue, shelters and another restroom are other potential improvements for Chesterton Park.

Another priority identified in the master plan is a dog park on the 27-acre Dickinson Road Park. The cost of a dog park is projected to be around $500,000.

McLead said it will take a few years for the dog park to be realized as site work must be done first.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.