Boone County is one step closer to erecting a new amphitheater at Boone Woods Park.
This past November, Boone County Park Director David Whitehouse announced that the previous amphitheater would be demolished to make way for a new facility. Louisville-based Battle Axe Inc. was awarded the demolition bid. As of now, the structure has yet to be demolished.
On Tuesday, the Boone County Fiscal Court approved a resolution selecting DWA Recreation, based in Harrison, Ohio, to design and install an amphitheater at Boone Woods Park. In December, Boone County posted a Request for Proposal (RFP) on its procurement website. The post generated four bids, and the selection committee eventually chose DWA Recreation.
DWA Recreation specializes in designing and building splash pads, playgrounds and other outdoor recreation spaces. The company collaborates with school districts, counties, municipalities, and other organizations.
Boone Woods, located at 6000 Veterans Way, is the oldest county park. Its trails are popular with walkers and joggers. Additionally, due to its amphitheater and large, grassy lawn, Boone Woods hosts some of the county’s largest concerts.
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore said the late Florence City Councilmember and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Director of Communications Ted Bushelman spearheaded the effort to build Boone Woods’ current amphitheater. The amphitheater’s facade is made up of the front portion of an old Delta baggage claim at CVG.
“It was really his brainchild when Ted was at the airport working with the community, and they built that old one with all kinds of interesting donations,” he said.
The new facility will be a prefabricated wooden structure complete with two dressing rooms. The design and installation of the amphitheater cost $231,680. Whitehouse said the project is coming in under budget, which will allow the parks department to invest the surplus funds in improving the infrastructure and grounds around the new facility.
“We still have money to do the electric and actually do a little extra concrete workaround,” he said.
In addition, a separate restroom facility will be constructed at the park. Whitehouse said the facility will accommodate daily parkgoers, as well as serve significant events such as concerts.
“The restrooms are in the amphitheater we presently have,” Whitehouse said. “The new restroom building will also have heat so we can have restrooms that are open year-round at the park, because we have people, as you know, that walk every day.”
The plan is for the amphitheater to be constructed in August, before the start county’s concert season.
“We’ll be able to put it up in August and have it ready for a concert in September,” he said.
Moore emphasized the importance of Boone Woods’ concert capacity, telling the audience that the shows attract thousands of people to the county every summer.
“You sure don’t want to be interfering with concert season,” he said.