Amphitheater in the works for Murrysville Community Park

A state grant could bring an amphitheater one step closer to reality at Murrysville Community Park, though not everyone is happy about the prospect.

Planning for the amphitheater was boosted by a $299,000 grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and municipal parks and recreation officials would like to hire a consultant to help steer the project. Municipal officials are considering powering the amphitheater by solar energy.

“These are things we don’t have experience in yet, but I’ve done some research on Pittsburgh-area consultants who have experience building in parks,” recreation Director Carly Greene said. “We’d like to explore these options and see what the cost-effectiveness and the practicality will be within the park.”

Work also is needed to determine the best way to move residents in and out of the amphitheater area, which is likely to be located on a 4.5-acre parcel northeast of the Miracle Field complex off Wiestertown Road, said Jim Morrison, municipal chief administrator.

“Our original idea was to take advantage of the topography out there,” Morrison said. “We’re now looking at moving the amphitheater farther back into the property, providing access through the main park by crossing a stream near the Miracle Field.”

Traffic concerns

The plans are not welcome news to Diane Storrick, owner and operator at Idle Creek Stables near the park on Wiestertown Road.

“They’ve completely neglected the neighborhood,” Storrick said of Murrysville officials. “The promise was that this would be a nice park, a country park in a country setting, and what they’ve turned it into is a sports facility.”

The amphitheater planning comes on the heels of another development request in the southeast corner of the park: Miracle Field officials want approval to light their baseball field to accommodate additional players and games.

Both Storrick and Morrison noted that when the park land was acquired in 2002 and was being developed, nearby residents were assured the park would not be lit, considering it closes at dusk.

In discussing both the Miracle Field and amphitheater projects, Morrison mentioned his concerns about increased traffic.

Storrick said traffic around the park “is already horrific.”

“I give riding lessons in the outdoor riding arena right next to Wiestertown Road,” Storrick said. “When little Johnny and Suzie are going to and from soccer practice, I am simply not able to provide the lessons I’ve promised to these kids.”

Morrison requested that Miracle Field officials demonstrate the need for lighting, particularly considering their aim is to add more games to accommodate additional interest from players.

“They don’t need to demonstrate any need,” Storrick said. “The municipality needs to keep its promise.”

Planning a new venue

Accommodating events at the amphitheater — which Greene said would be comparable in size to Hempfield’s 86-by-37-foot amphitheater — will require adequate parking.

“We’ll need the support of the parking lots there in the park, so we’ll have to get those connected,” Morrison said.

Construction on the amphitheater is proposed for late summer and early fall, and Morrison said he hopes to build on this summer’s park-based concert series.

“We had a very successful ‘Tuesdays at Townsend’ group of concerts,” he said. “We got a grant to put on four concerts out there and it went very well.”

Greene said her goal is to create a dynamic space in the park for events.

“We’d like to be able to offer a concert series, not jumping full-force into it, but see what the crowd likes and wants,” she said. “We’d like to make it available for rent, once we’re more familiar with how everything will operate out there. I’d like to be able to have comedy nights there, and more than just a Friday night concert.”