Construction on permanent restrooms, storage and pathways at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park should be finished in time for the busy season, Jefferson City's parks director says.
The home of the Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater is undergoing construction work, bringing permanent amenities to the attraction ahead of its third year in operation. Parks Director Todd Spalding said the project should be finished in around a month, replacing the temporary storage and portable restrooms with something much more permanent.
"They were in the original plans for the site, but we didn't know how successful it would be or how we could add to it," Spalding said. "We wanted to do a little improvement every year, and this was the year we had them budgeted for. With the success we've had over three years, it proved it was time for more permanent solutions."
Crews are hard at work on the bathroom complex and storage, with additional work planned to start next week on new pathways to the gates. Spalding said it would make getting into the amphitheater much easier.
"It's to help get people from the parking lot to the facility. We've been able to figure out traffic patterns and how people come into the park, so it'll connect the lower parking lot to the gates," he said. "That should start in a week or two."
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved a change order amounting to $358,000 for the restrooms in October and a $191,000 order for a storage facility next to the restrooms and the 4,000-foot trail in December. A digital entrance sign was also approved for $22,800.
The amphitheater has attracted tens of thousands of guests and acts like Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Lewis, Granger Smith and others, as well as events including Battle of the Brews and a showing of the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" that featured a conversation with much of the original core cast.
While previous financial reports indicated the fledgling venue had yet to break even, Spalding previously said it needed a few years to grow before it would turn a profit and that the point of the site was to give the community a new source of fun rather than to make money, in the same vein as other parks projects.
Ellis-Porter Riverside Park is located at 360 Service Drive. Check crmuamphitheater.com for events and more information.
Julie Smith/News Tribune A crew from Verslues Construction used several different types of floats and any means necessary to smooth the surface of Monday's fresh pour of concrete in the driveway leading to the concert stage and Capital REgion MU Health Amphitheater at Riverside Park.
Julie Smith/News Tribune A crew from Verslues Construction used several different types of floats and any means necessary to smooth the surface of Monday's fresh pour of concrete in the driveway leading to the concert stage and Capital REgion MU Health Amphitheater at Riverside Park.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Two new additions have been constructed on the grounds at Capital Region MU Health Amphitheater at Riverside Park. Although both of the buildings will be appreciate and utilized,, the one on the right will be highly valued to event attendees as it will house indoor restrooms. The building on the left is a storage building for use by Parks and Rec staff to be able to house necessary items that are currently held in trailers behind the concert stage. Currently, electrical conduit is being run throught the restroom building and crews try to get the construction done in time for concert season.