Sweet Home seeks community-built bandstand at Sankey Park; Timber Framers Guild may lead build

City staff told the Sweet Home Park Entry Committee that Sankey Park’s phase 3 may move forward with a bandstand project led by the Timber Framers Guild and local partners.

Committee members said staff is working through procurement options that may allow the city to contract separately for a nonprofit partner and for the trail work, enabling the Timber Framers Guild to design and build a bandstand as a community project.

The Timber Framers Guild described the project to staff as a “community build”: once materials and structural designs are ready, guild crews would complete specialized framing and invite donated labor and community volunteers to help with work the guild can permit volunteers to do. Staff said the organization also coordinates prep tasks such as timber treatment and that a community build would involve engineering oversight and certified craftspersons for structural work.

Staff noted the grant funder has agreed to allow a six-month extension so trail construction could be completed by the end of next June if more time is needed; the trail itself is not expected to be finished this year. City council approval will be required for costs and procurement steps before the project proceeds.

Committee members discussed outreach needs and the likelihood the build would include local donations of material and volunteer labor; staff said they will return with procurement language and cost estimates for council consideration.

Less-critical detail: committee members compared the proposed build to prior Timber Framers Guild projects the staff had seen, including a structure in Idaho, and described potential community potlucks and volunteer logistics once the project reaches the construction phase.