Brookside Park was conceived in 1917 and became a twenty-acre reality in 1919 at a cost of $6,000. Eight years later the first swimming pool was built for $26,000. In addition to the pool, a shelter house costing $1,400, a wooden bandstand costing $2,200, and tennis courts costing $2,500 were also built.

    By 1932, the park covered twenty acres with additional facilities for horseshoe pitching, softball and baseball diamonds, a lake with a casting platform, croquet courts, a children's playground, archery, and bowling on the green. All of this was illuminated for nighttime use.

    In 1937, Mrs. Guy C. Myers purchased ten acres adjoining the park and presented the land to the city. Ten years later, a plea by Dr. Louis E. Pete for a new band shell appeared in the local paper and was read by Mrs. Myers as she vacationed in Michigan. The following day a message reached Dr. Pete that she would build the desired band shell as a memorial to her husband.

    Designed to replace the old wooden bandstand, the new shell would be 110 feet high and 90 feet wide to accommodate a 100-piece band, orchestra, or choir on its stage, 65 in the orchestra pit and seat 3,000 in its amphitheatre. The shell was designed by Hahn and Hayes, architects from Toledo, W.C. Forbes was general contractor, Jay Patterson did the electrical work, H.C. Wheeler installed the seats and concrete walks, and D.D. Quinn designed and planted the landscaping.

    The official dedication occurred in the third week of June, 1949, with three evenings of ceremonies and concerts by bands and choirs.