Rebuilding the Irving “Pete” Peterson Memorial Band Shell: One Year After the Fire

International Falls is still working to rebuild its historic Smokey Bear Park bandshell one year after a fire destroyed the beloved structure. The bandshell – built in 1940 and later renamed the Irving “Pete” Peterson Band Shell – was a total loss in an April 2024 blaze. Today, city officials are navigating insurance hurdles, design questions, and community concerns as they plan a new bandshell to take its place.

Key Developments (April 2024 – April 2025)

• Fire Destroys Historic Bandshell (April 2024): A fire broke out shortly after 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 7, 2024, engulfing the wooden bandshell in Smokey Bear Park and causing heavy structural damage. Fire investigators later deemed the blaze “incendiary in nature,” indicating a suspicious origin. Then-Mayor Harley Droba called the blaze a “sad disaster” and “a complete loss” for the city. The bandshell, an art deco-style arched structure originally built around 1940 and refurbished in 1997, had long been a centerpiece for community events.
• Emergency Response and Cleanup: In the immediate aftermath, the city secured the site and began working with investigators and insurance adjusters. At an April 15, 2024 city council meeting, Mayor Droba raised the need for a temporary stage for upcoming park events (April 15, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota), underscoring the bandshell’s importance to community gatherings. By late June 2024, the City Council approved a contract with Wagner Construction for $68,574 to demolish and remove the fire-damaged bandshell remains, with costs to be reimbursed by the city’s insurer (the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust) (June 17, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Crews removed the charred structure by early July, although the concrete stage foundation was left in place for the time being (June 17, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).
• Engineering Firm Hired (May 2024): The city brought on engineering firm Bolton & Menk on May 24, 2024 to provide professional services for the bandshell rebuild project (such as structural assessments, site engineering, and coordinating design) according to city officials. Jason Fisher, a Bolton & Menk engineer serving as city engineer, began updating the Council on rebuild efforts. In August 2024, Fisher reported that final debris cleanup was underway – with hopes that all remaining rubble would be hauled away before a late-summer bass fishing tournament in the park (August 5, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).
• Planning the New Bandshell: Through late 2024, the city entered the planning and insurance negotiation phase. The goal was (and remains) to construct a new bandshell on the same site. However, progress was slower than some expected. One complicating factor is that any new structure must meet modern building codes and accessibility standards. City Administrator Betty Bergstrom noted that the old bandshell was not ADA-compliant, so the replacement must include upgrades for disability access (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). These requirements can add cost and complexity, which the city has to factor into its plans and insurance claims.
• Leadership Change: On January 1, 2025, Drake Dill assumed office as the new Mayor of International Falls (February 3, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota), succeeding Harley Droba. Mayor Dill inherited the bandshell rebuild as a key unfinished project from the previous administration. He, along with a mostly unchanged City Council, is responsible for moving the project forward.
• Status Update – Insurance and Design (Feb–Mar 2025): At a February 18, 2025 City Council meeting, a resident asked about the bandshell rebuild timeline. Administrator Bergstrom responded that the “holdup is with the insurance company” determining coverage, and reaffirmed that “when it is rebuilt it needs to be ADA compliant” (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). In mid-March 2025, the Council discussed the idea of engaging local architect Jim Lucachick to lead the bandshell’s architectural design (March 17, 2025 City Council Meeting Agenda – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Lucachick, a well-known area architect, was considered for his design expertise on the project; however, that March 17, 2025 council discussion ended with no formal decision made to hire him. As of April 2025, no final design has been approved, but the city has indicated it will likely bring in an architect as the project progresses.

City Officials: “Working Through the Process”

City Administrator Bergstrom in March 2025 offered a public update to clarify where things stand. “The City is currently working with League of Minnesota Cities insurance adjusters to determine the replacement value of the structure. Once this process is completed, the City will work with Bolton & Menk (engineering firm hired on 5/24/2024 for professional services – bandshell rebuild project) through the process of building a new structure,” Bergstrom said in an official statement. This means the city must first settle how much insurance money it will receive for the destroyed bandshell before it can fully kick off the rebuilding – including finalizing design plans and putting the project out for bid.

Bolton & Menk’s role, confirmed by the city, is to guide the technical and engineering side of the rebuild. The firm has been involved since shortly after the fire, assisting with site surveys, structural inspections, and preliminary planning. Once the insurance claim is resolved, Bolton & Menk is expected to help the city develop plans for a new bandshell and navigate the construction process. City officials have not announced any projected timeline for construction, but the intent is to have a modern, safe, and accessible bandshell replace the old one as soon as feasible. In the interim, park events in 2024 and 2025 have made do with temporary stages or alternate arrangements while the permanent performance space is out of commission.

Unanswered Questions and Community Concerns

Despite these updates, many details about the bandshell rebuild remain unclear, and residents are eagerly awaiting more information. IFalls News submitted detailed questions to Administrator Bergstrom about the project. These questions focus on issues such as:

• Insurance Coverage: How much of the rebuild cost will the city’s insurance actually cover? Will the insurance payout be enough to fully fund an equivalent new bandshell, including required ADA upgrades, or is there a funding gap the city will need to fill? (City officials have confirmed that insurance adjusters are involved, but specific dollar figures or coverage details have not been released publicly.)
• Design Plans: What will the new bandshell look like, and will it preserve the historic character of the original? The loss of the 1940 bandshell has sparked public interest in whether the replacement will replicate the classic “arched shell” design or take a new direction. As of now, no renderings or design proposals have been shared with the public. The City Council’s discussion about hiring architect Jim Lucachick indicates that formal design work is still pending (March 17, 2025 City Council Meeting Agenda – City of International Falls, Minnesota).
• Funding and Budget: If the insurance settlement does not cover the entire cost of a code-compliant new bandshell, where will additional funding come from? City leaders have not yet outlined a budget or potential sources (e.g. city funds, state grants, or community fundraising) to cover any shortfall. The former mayor had called the bandshell fire a disaster; however, the current administration has yet to detail how rebuilding costs will be managed if they exceed insurance reimbursement.
• Public Engagement: Will residents have a say in the new bandshell’s design or features? The original bandshell was a community landmark used for concerts, events, and gatherings. Citizens have expressed interest in providing input on the rebuild to ensure the new structure meets community needs. So far, the city has not announced any public forums or surveys related to the bandshell design, leaving some residents feeling left out of the process.
• Contractor Selection: Aside from the initial debris removal (handled by a local contractor, Wagner Construction), it’s unknown how the city plans to select a contractor to build the new bandshell. Typically, a project of this size would go through a public bidding process. The city has not yet advertised any request for bids, likely because the project is still in the planning and insurance phase. Questions remain about whether local builders will be involved and how the city will ensure a fair, competitive construction bidding process.
• Timeline and Transparency: Perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s mind is “When will the new bandshell be ready?” To date, city officials have not provided a target timeline for construction or completion. In public meetings, the response has been that progress is waiting on insurance and planning (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). This cautious approach is understandable, but it has led to some frustration. The lack of a clear timeline, combined with limited proactive communication from the city, has raised concerns about transparency. Residents pushing for updates note that aside from brief mentions at council meetings and the March statement above, there has been little detailed information published on the bandshell project over the past year.

City leaders acknowledge the importance of the Smokey Bear Park bandshell to International Falls’ identity and summer traditions. Mayor Drake Dill (February 3, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) and the council have affirmed that rebuilding the bandshell is a priority. The process so far has been deliberate, as the city wants to “do it right” – ensuring the new structure is fully insured, code-compliant, and well-designed for the long term. As of April 2025, the city is poised to move forward once insurance matters are settled. The community is hopeful that in the coming months, more concrete information will emerge – such as design options or a construction schedule – that will allow everyone to see a path toward having an operating bandshell once again. Until then, International Falls residents will be watching city hall for the next update on when the music can return to Smokey Bear Park.

Sources:

1. City of International Falls – City Council Minutes (April 15, 2024).
2. City of International Falls – City Council Minutes (June 17, 2024).
3. City of International Falls – City Council Minutes (August 5, 2024).
4. City of International Falls – City Council Minutes (February 18, 2025).
5. City of International Falls – City Council Meeting Agenda (March 17, 2025).
6. City of International Falls – City Council Minutes (February 3, 2025).
7. Duluth News Tribune “Historic International Falls bandshell destroyed by fire” – April 8, 2024.
8. City of International Falls – Administrator’s Public Statement on Bandshell Rebuild – March 2025.