In the late 19th century Island MetroPark was known as the White City Amusement Park. The park had a dance pavilion, amusement rides, canoe lockers, a refreshment stand and other recreation features. In 1910, the City of Dayton started leasing the park land for $3,000 a year, and in 1911, a recommendation to buy the land was proposed in the report submitted by the Olmsted brothers. There were enhancements to the park after the Great Flood in 1913. On July 13, 1913, the Dayton Canoe Club held is first regatta. On June 20, 1914, the park formally opened as Island Park. 

The park became an ideal location in the coming years for programming that included sunbathing, picnicking, canoeing, boating, dancing, ice skating, water carnivals, evening band concerts and general recreation. In 1940, a band shell was erected and opened under the name of the Leslie L. Diehl Band Shell, where in 1943 programmed concert attendance totaled 80,000.