Members of the Moline Historic Preservation Commission went before City Council Tuesday night to stress the importance of restoring the historic Prospect Park Pavilion.
Dick Potter, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, says the Victorian-style Pavilion built in 1891 is important to Moline’s history and culture.
The pavilion’s 125-year-old foundation is waning due to water pressure in the hillside that borders its back end. Its front columns are rotting, and the bathrooms need updates. The estimated cost to repair these damages ranges from $300,000 $375,000, depending on specific plans.
Some aldermen, like John Zelnio of the 4th ward, suggest demolishing the current Prospect Park Pavilion and rebuilding a similar structure in a better location. Zelnio says this could potentially cut costs and provide a more stable and long-lasting building.
Potter, however, says demolishing this piece of Moline history would be unfair to the community.
The Moline City Council is reviewing the costs of the Pavilion’s restoration, but has also requested potential expenses for demolition and rebuilding.
