AMPHITHEATER Flooding delays opening ceremony

The opening has been reset for Aug. 15.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL
WARREN -- Last week's heavy rain has pushed back the planned opening of the Riverwalk Amphitheater again.
The unveiling has been moved from Friday to Aug. 15.
After the flooding, the amphitheater's stage was covered by water which also reached the first tier. The facility is intact.
"The amphitheater itself survived pretty well," said Michael D. Keys, community development director.
Officials previously had a tentative date for an opening ceremony in mid-July, but rescheduled it for Friday to ensure the facility would be ready.
It's ready, but the weatherman didn't cooperate for this week's opening date.
Keys said that although the amphitheater survived the flood, officials were concerned about parking.
They didn't want the ball fields at Perkins Park, which were under water last week, to be damaged by people parking their cars.
"We decided to put it off and make sure everything is dried out," he said.
The opening festivities are to include entertainment from area bands and are expected to start late the afternoon of Aug. 15 and continue into the evening.
What's planned
The committee established to plan and work on the amphitheater project is to recommend to council how the facility should be run. The city could opt to operate the facility itself, lease it to a nonprofit organization or to a for-profit company.
The city aims to have entertainment at the amphitheater, which features seating carved into the hill with a wide promenade providing a path around it.
The amphitheater is part of a larger Riverwalk project in the works for several years.
Other pieces of the project planned if funding becomes available include restoration of the Kinsman House, the Mahoning Avenue house built in 1834 as part of the Simon Perkins Family Farm.
Other hoped-for additions include a shell for the stage, picnic pavilion and renovations to park facilities.
denise.dick@vindy.com