PEORIA, Ill. – The city of Peoria has given the go-ahead for an amphitheater along the Riverfront.
The city council on Tuesday night unanimously accepted an $11-million donation from the Hengst Foundation to help construct the up to 5,000 seat facility on Riverfront Park.
The project was initially slated for Washington, but the proposal was withdrawn after the current mayor and council raised questions about it.
Former Washington Mayor Gary Manier, a champion of the project and representing the foundation at the meeting, expressed his gratitude after the vote.
“Jim (Hengst) wanted this dream to build an amphitheater to honor his wife that passed away,” Manier said. “What a great gift that the city has received.”
As per the agreement in city council documents, the Hengst Foundation will have the authority over the preliminary design of the amphitheater, including the firms designing and constructing the structure. The city will have approval authority over the final design and supervise construction, as the city will own it after its construction.
City attorney Patrick Hayes stated that since Riverfront Park was acquired through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service, there was some complexity with the agreement. But he anticipates eventual approval after the preliminary design is submitted.
2nd District Councilman Alex Carmona questioned about what would happen if the budget for the project exceeds the proposed $11 million. Hayes says the city is not obligated to provide additional costs, outside of environmental mitigation. But he adds there is hope that the project could trigger state grants for Riverfront Park.
After approval, the council viewed a presentation from TERRA Engineering and Epstein Global Architects about what the area could look like once completed. The proposal shows an open-air structure with a roof that’s supported by V-shaped columns.
Patrick Carata is the Design Director of Epstein Global Architects says the Murray Baker Bridge was an important element in designing the space. He says one idea in the design is having QR codes on the sides of the structure’s pillars that can lead to messages from the foundation, performers, the community, and more.
A timeline for the project has yet to be established.
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