Special meeting set to discuss Ferdinand amphitheatre

Several years ago, Ferdinand’s Park Board developed a plan to build a shelter house/amphitheatre in 18th Street Park, but at the time it did not prove to be feasible. Cost was a factor, as was the type of structure under discussion.

At the August 13 Town Council meeting, Park Board President Scott Tretter again broached the idea. He noted 2014 would be an ideal time for construction as Ferdinand will celebrate 175 years of existence in 2015. If not now, he concluded, then never would be more likely.

The council agreed to hold a joint meeting with the park board to review the possibility at a future date.

During the council’s September meeting Tuesday night, President Ken Sicard asked to set the joint Town Council/Park Board meeting for Wednesday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall. Residents with suggestions, ideas and concerns are encouraged to attend.

At least two in attendance at the meeting object to the idea. Pat Haake, whose home adjoins the park, has been in contact with town officials to voice his concerns. He feared a final decision would be made at the joint meeting and was told that would not be the case. The project has not been discussed in depth, nothing has been designed and no cost estimates secured.

David “Petsy” Oeding felt the money expended for an amphitheatre would be better spent on sidewalks. He would like to see a sidewalk built along Main that would stretch to the Country Plaza Shopping Center.

Funding for the amphitheatre would come from the Park Department’s budget. Projects completed last year came in under estimate, so the Park Board encumbered remaining funds and would combine them with their 2014 allocation to pay for the structure.

After the meeting, Councilwoman Debbie Johnson explained that a lack of funds is not the problem with extending the sidewalk. According to State Statute, the Town must repair existing sidewalks before new ones can be built. Due to the Americans with Disabilities Act, sidewalks can only slope to a gentle grade, which would pose a problem in front of the Dollar General Store. The hill would have to be cut, a retaining wall built, and fiber optic lines buried in the hillside relocated. And, because the sidewalk would border a state highway, the Indiana Department of Transportation would be involved.

That said, Johnson, in her second term, has repeatedly talked about wanting exactly what Oeding does — a sidewalk that would extend to the shopping center.

Councilman Ron Weyer said calling the proposed structure an amphitheatre is misleading, especially if one envisions the 1,500 seat facility in Spencer County. He believes the structure under consideration would more closely resemble a covered stage — if it is deemed feasible this time around. There would be no seating and the building could potentially double as a shelter house.

The exact site has not been determined. Both Johnson and Weyer said if the project goes forward, they would like to see it in close proximity to the Tri County YMCA, Library and Forest Park so it can be used for a variety of community programming.