Michigan City, IN September 21, 2021, The Barker Welfare Foundation announced a $50,000 grant towards the Washington Park Bandstand restoration project.
Alexander Barker Ross, President of the Barker Welfare Foundation, stated “The Barker family has a long history with the bandstand in Washington Park. My great grandfather, John H. Barker, donated the original bandstand in the 1890s, which burnt down in 1910.”
The current structure was built in 1911, and The Barker Welfare Foundation also contributed to prior renovations in 1976 and 1991.
The bandstand featured weekly summer concerts by the Michigan City Municipal Band for nearly 70 years until a new amphitheater was built in Washington Park in 1978.
“We are proud to support important community projects such as this. It is vitally important to preserve the history of Michigan City, and we intend to be an active community partner in the future”, he continued.
Since the creation of the Barker Welfare Foundation in 1934 by Catherine Barker Hickox, the foundation has donated over $10 million to 70 community, social service and arts nonprofits serving Michigan City and LaPorte County.
