RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun is addressing the recent controversy regarding the fencing off of the Memorial Park Bandshell.
Community volunteers say they have been using the Bandshell for nearly six years as a location to hand out meals to the area’s homeless population, and believe the fence is an attempt by the city to stop the meals.
But, Salamun says the city never intended for the meals to stop and cited multiple health and safety concerns as the reason for the gate. He said multiple times a week, they have had to clean up the Bandshell.
Those who provide the service criticized the mayor and invited him to attend a food handout at the Bandshell.
Salamun did not reply, however, the mayor did offer volunteers the opportunity to work with the city’s Parks Department to coordinate times for their meal handouts with a waived fee.
