Early work is underway at the future site of the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater.
Kevin Stafford, vice president of Neel-Schaffer and the city engineer, told The Dispatch the city’s public works department has started clearing trees to make way for the amphitheater, which will be located on The Island, across from the pedestrian bridge near The Riverwalk.
“With the steering committee, one of the decisions was to go ahead and do what can be done in house to save some money and also to reduce the time frame for construction,” Stafford said. “We still would like to have it completed within the next year. So right now what you see going on out there is public works clearing 90 to 95 percent of the trees that are gonna have to come out for the project.”
Stafford previously told the city council the amphitheater would cost about $3 million. It will take up approximately three acres on The Island and include a grassy seating area for about 1,500 people and permanent seats for another 1,500.
Stafford said the next phase will be some preliminary dirt work to prepare the site for construction. He said planners hope to finish design by the end of the year and begin advertising in time to award a bid early next year.
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