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Canal Park may open ampitheater in August - By Richard Reeder
This document was published online on Monday, April 30, 2007
As construction of Canal Park progresses organizers are asking the city to change how money the council has committed to the project is spent.
“The park committee has asked if they can pay to put in the irrigation system,” city administrator Andy Whiteman told the city council during its pre-meeting Thursday. “They want to start on the system right away, and if we pay for it, they can't.”
Last year the city set aside $40,000 for the irrigation system and other aspects of the project located on the hillside north of the rec center.
“If the cost of the irrigation system is more than $20,000, we have to bid it out,” Whiteman said. “That could take six weeks and will slow them.”
The council was in agreement with the request.
“I don't see a problem with it,” Mayor Roger Sedam said. “We can do whatever it takes to help, and we can just pay for other things with the money we've set aside.”
City attorney Scott Kolpitcke will draft a letter to address the changes.
“We don't want an over-the-top system, and us have to pay for it,” council member Nancy Tia Brown said. “We want it done right and economically.”
Canal Park Development Committee spokesman Sharon Miller said construction is moving at a steady pace.
“We asked the city to switch the funding around,” she said. “We want to have the irrigation system in place and ready to go when the raw water is turned on (May 7).
“We had some (construction) problems with that system last year that set us back about two months,” she added.
Seating for the new amphitheater near the west end of Draw Street is being installed and work is shifting to other parts of the park.
“We will be moving onto the staircase and getting it installed,” Miller said. “And the pavers in the events plaza will be installed.
“We want the landscaper in there to start planting grass and other trees,” she added. “We're moving along at a good pace.”
The committee is hoping the park can open in August.
“A company from Lander is going to be installing solar lighting in the amphitheater,” Miller said. “We're hoping all work will be completed and we'll be ready for Shakespeare in the Park in August.”
Miller said fundraising has gone well and the budget is in good shape.
“None of us are experts at this and we will have things come up,” she added. “We'll realize we forgot something and have to work it in, but it's all falling together.”
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