Chautauqua County Legislator Bob Bankoski spoke in favor of a proposed amphitheater in Dunkirk’s Memorial Park last week.

“Myself, I’m a veteran, served in the Army for 20 years,” said Bankoski, who represents Dunkirk in the county legislature. “My wife and I attend the (Music on the Pier concerts, occasionally held at Memorial Park) on Thursday almost every week.”

He continued, “I find it not offensive for the proposed amphitheater in Memorial Park. The proposed site, which is on the far eastern side, would not infringe upon the monuments.”

Bankoski pointed out that “several years back, when the water plant had its reconstruction, I don’t remember if people can remember or not but the water tower was on top of the plant. When we did the reconstruction, now the tower sits in Memorial Park and it’s fenced in.”

Bankoski added there is also now a small parking lot next to the fenced-in tower area.

“We have a water tower and a parking lot on the west end and it hasn’t bothered anybody, and now we’ve got a proposed amphitheater, which would be very nice, on the east end. Definitely not encroaching on the monuments. This is not sacred ground, there’s no one buried there. We have other events there throughout the year… when we have the music there, it gives people room to spread out.”

Bankoski later opined that Memorial Park is “really a better venue than the pier. We’ve kind of outgrown the pier now, with the events that the city hosts now with the music.”

He also backed councilman Frank Torain’s suggestion that the amphitheater is dedicated to veterans.

Bankoski’s comments came after veterans Zachery DeLong and Richard Makuch criticized the proposed placement of the amphitheater in Memorial Park at a previous council meeting.