Construction begins on amphitheater project at Civic Center Park

MADISON HEIGHTS — On a breezy evening June 6, families strolling up and down the hill at Civic Center Park may have wondered why a large plot of land had been torn up by an excavator and cordoned off with orange fencing.

Work has begun on the city’s amphitheater project — simply called the “bandshell” by many city officials. Poetically, the latest initiative by the Arts Board, created by Mayor Pro Tem Mark Bliss, is right next to its first: “The Power of Imagination” mural by local artist Jennifer Ramirez that spans all four walls of the Jaycee shelter building near the hill and Fire Station No. 1.

Also nearby is a pavilion for family gatherings, and a baseball diamond where a youth team was playing that night. The park itself is a popular venue that plays host to annual events such as the Juneteenth Celebration, the Pre-Fourth of July Festival in the Park, and the strolling music festival Trail Tunes. And this fall’s Trail Tunes, set for Sept. 21, is when the bandshell is expected to be open, serving as a stage for various performances, including the climactic Battle of the Bands.

“I’m glad that we’re adding new features to Civic Center Park so that we can host even more events there, like concerts, graduation ceremonies, theatrical performances, all sorts of things,” said Sean Fleming, a member of the Madison Heights City Council. The suggestion for school functions seems particularly apt, with Lamphere High School right next to the park.

“We can also possibly generate revenues off the bandshell as we rent it out to other groups, but I’d assume that if it’s a nonprofit group or good cause, they may not have to pay that rate or the same rate,” he said. “For some groups, making presentations or cultural celebrations, this would allow them to take their programs from indoors to outdoors, which is great as well.”

At its meeting May 13, the council approved Frank Rewold & Sons, Inc., for the roughly $287,000 project, which is subsidized by a $250,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation. The approximate $287,000 figure includes about $71,000 that was previously used to purchase the construction kit back in January.

A 50-by-20-foot concrete pad will serve as the base, with sidewalk access along the front and rear to provide access and prevent erosion. The structure itself will not only include the stage but also storage rooms built behind it. The council initially considered cutting this feature to save costs, but ultimately decided the extra rooms were necessary, especially for special events. To top it all off, upgrades will be made to the park’s electrical systems.

“I think the big picture here is this will allow for incredible shows, events, plays and other opportunities where residents can experience art and foster a stronger, more connected community,” said Quinn Wright, a member of the Madison Heights City Council. “One of the things the HREC (Human Relations and Equity Commission) is working on is a poetry-reading competition. Now, there will be an open-air platform to have those kinds of things that in the past didn’t have enough space. We welcome those groups and their creativity.”

Some of the difference in cost is covered by way of the city’s special projects fund, which is money set aside by the city for quality-of-life initiatives, as they arise. That system was first suggested by Bliss. In addition to the murals and the bandshell, the Arts Board he created has also been behind events such as Trail Tunes and the Pumpkin Walk.

He emphasized that the bandshell project is possible because of the collaborative effort between city staff, council and the volunteers on the Arts Board.

“We’re getting a quarter-million-dollar grant to fund this project, and we have money set aside in the special projects fund to cover the extra, making sure it’s built to last. That’s why I instituted the special projects fund in the budget a few years ago. It’s expressly for things like this,” Bliss said.

“From that first initiative with the mural, to now this bandshell, it’s this incredible culmination of dozens of volunteers throughout the years, bringing this focus on art and culture into our city. And I truly appreciate that our staff and vendors are also focused on making sure that this bandshell will be around for decades. It will be a permanent structure in our city, not just for performances and events from our city boards and commissions, but also by the general public,” he said.

On that note, he said, “I would love to see budding theater groups renting this out for Shakespeare in the park, or concerts there from our high school and middle school bands and choirs. This structure being there allows a whole lot more programming than what we could do before.”

Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, said that it has other benefits, too.

“Having this dedicated space at Civic Center means we aren’t fighting with other communities to book the moveable stage (from Oakland County Parks) that we and our partners use for the Festival in the Park and Juneteenth,” she said by email. “Having this year-round dedicated space will allow us to bring in more musical performances, and potentially add theatrical productions and other community events. We pride ourselves on offering many no-cost events for our community, and this permanent bandshell will be a catalyst to bring in even more family-friendly events to the area.”