City of St. Helena Completes Seismic Restoration of Historic 1922 Lyman Park Bandstand and Permeable Brick Civic Plaza

Public works engineers with the City of St. Helena and architectural historians from the St. Helena Historical Society rededicated the seismically restored 1922 Lyman Park Bandstand and a permeable clay-brick civic plaza on Sunday morning at 1498 Main Street (Highway 29) in the heart of downtown St. Helena. Gifted to the city more than a century ago by pioneer vintner W.W. Lyman Jr., the two-acre elm-and-redwood shaded park hosts the St. Helena Community Band summer concerts, the hometown Fourth of July celebration, and seasonal farm-stand markets.

To protect the 104-year-old octagonal timber bandstand against seismic lateral forces without altering its historic white-painted Victorian gingerbread millwork, preservation engineers inserted a concealed structural steel moment ring beneath the soffit, anchored the perimeter redwood columns to new micropile footings, and reroofed the cupola with fire-retardant western red cedar shingles. A low-slope basalt-stone wheelchair ramp was seamlessly integrated into the rear steps so musicians and civic speakers with mobility aids can access the elevated stage deck.

Surrounding the bandstand, masons replaced root-heaved asphalt paths with 6,400 square feet of permeable heritage clay pavers set over an aerated structural soil bed that delivers oxygen and winter rainwater to the park's century-old American elms and coast redwoods. Four recessed 100-amp electrical pedestals were also installed for concert sound systems and zero-emission food vendors.

The $370,000 historic bandstand and plaza program was approved by the St. Helena City Council using Measure T civic infrastructure funds and private community preservation donations. Visitors can check park event listings on the City of St. Helena Parks and Recreation Portal.