Murrysville seeks consultant to move forward with amphitheater project

Murrysville officials hope to break ground on an amphitheater and performance space at Murrysville Community Park by late spring or early summer.

Council on Wednesday voted to reissue a request-for-proposals for a project consultant.

A similar request last year returned proposals that Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said ranged between $60,000 and $120,000 — a far cry from the target goal of about $20,000.

“They were doing a lot of infrastructure design and subcontracting, and we think we have some contacts in the community who can provide that support,” Morrison said.

The onset of the covid-19 pandemic also delayed development of the project.

The majority of the project will be funded through a $299,000 grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Morrison said the municipality has received the proper state permits to bridge a small stream between the Miracle Field complex and the amphitheater’s proposed location toward the southeastern side of the park.

“We re-evaluated the request-for-proposals to be a little more specific on what we’re looking for from the consultants and how the work can be divided between them, subcontractors and public works on-site,” Recreation Director Carly Greene said.

Greene said the recreation department is considering a pre-fabricated amphitheater by North Carolina-based Enwood, a model called the “Apex,” which can be built in a variety of configurations.

With sanitary lines and utilities running past the future site of a park clubhouse, Morrison said he’s looking for the consultant to help conceptualize the space and decide what should be included.

“We all have ideas and wants there,” he said, “and we’re hoping the consultant can help bring those together into a unified plan we can move forward with.”

Greene said she would like to break ground on the project by late spring or early summer at the latest, “but that depends on the proposals we get back, how quickly we can get through meetings and what the costs look like.”

The DCNR grant runs through the end of 2022, Greene added, “so there’s no need to rush.”

Council voted 6-0 to advertise the request-for-proposals. Council President Dayne Dice was not present.