BurlCo to Get New Amphitheater

Burlington County Freeholders gave final approval to plans to construct a new 500-seat amphitheater at the main branch of the Burlington County Library in Westampton and authorized the solicitation of bids. The facility will be managed by the Parks Division within the Department of Resource Conservation.

Plans prepared by Lord, Worrell & Richter engineering firm of Burlington call for multi-tiered segmental block seating with landscaping arranged around a center stage in a C-shaped format.

The amphitheater will be situated in an open area between the library and the county Health Department on Pioneer Boulevard. While the facility is expected to seat 500, another 250 can be accommodated in the surrounding grassy areas.

Freeholder William S. Haines, Jr. said that the cost of the overall construction was estimated between $750,000 and $850,000, but that freeholders would seek and carefully review separate pricing on various items in the project before awarding a contract.

"The engineer has presented us with an attractive facility which, I am convinced, our residents will enjoy," said Haines. "This is an expansion of a general concept plan we were dealing with a year ago, but it addresses safety issues and also accommodates the need for more parking." Although the amphitheatre is a Parks Division project it will be used to hold concerts and programs sponsored by both the county library and the county's Cultural & Heritage office.

Library Director Gail Sweet said that the amphitheater would not only become a staging area for evening concerts during warm weather, but would also provide ample accommodations for the library's popular children's programs.

"When we surveyed county residents two years ago some 85 percent of those who responded indicated a need for our parks system to provide a venue for concerts and similar programs," said Haines. "This answers that request."

He said that funding for the amphitheater would come from the county's current dedicated tax of four cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which is used to fund land preservation activities and park development.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place this fall and construction will be completed by early 2003, with the first performances and programs to be scheduled for the spring.

In order to address parking, the final plans call for construction of a pedestrian walkway and bridge connecting the facility with the parking lot at the Health Department.

Provisions have also been incorporated for concealing electric and sound wiring as an added safety precaution. A pavilion is planned adjacent to the stage for ticket and concession sales. Restrooms will be located here as well.

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Author: Press Release-Ralph Shrom