After years of neglect, a shelter in Front Park is getting a
much needed overhaul. The shelter was first designed and
constructed in 1898. At the time, it was adorned with a
beautiful red Spanish tile roof, which gave it much of its
character. In the 60's that roof was replaced with temporary
roll roof, and then asphalt shingles were added as a rather long
lasting and unfortunate repair. An interesting fact is that the
structure was originally built as an enclosed shelter. In the
50s the shelter was reconstructed as an open air pavilion with
views out onto the park (see history of Front Park Today, thanks
to $92,000 from the Niagara Greenway Fund, the red Spanish tiles
are making a comeback. Along with the roof, the rafters are
being repaired, the concrete slab floor is being replaced, and
the masonry is being repointed. The burned out grills that were
once part of the shelter's interior are getting scrapped, in
lieu of new grills that will be placed adjacent to the shelter.
^Photo: Olmsted Parks Conservancy