Youngstown exploring downtown amphitheater, riverwalk development

YOUNGSTOWN

The city is seeking qualifications from firms to do design work along the Mahoning River that includes an amphitheater at the Covelli Centre and a possible park at the site of the former Wean United Building.

The location to be improved stretches from underneath the South Avenue Bridge to just west of Hazel Street.

“This could perhaps be the beginning step of a riverwalk” at the former Wean location, said Mayor John A. McNally. “It’s the greening of the entire property.”

A year ago, the city asked for qualifications from firms for design and architectural work on a proposed amphitheater after receiving approval from city council to spend up to $90,000 to hire a consultant to design an outdoor facility. The city received eight proposals, but did nothing.

The difference now is “the momentum of developing downtown is increasing,” McNally said. “I need to clean up both sides of the Market Street Bridge. The success of the Covelli Centre is growing and with Wean demolished I’d like to move forward and clean up that location and give it a park-like setting. There is no large green space in downtown Youngstown.”

Eric Ryan, the Covelli Centre’s executive director, said he’s “extremely excited” the city is revisiting the amphitheater idea he proposed four years ago.

Read more about the proposed development in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.