Hall-Perrine, local companies give big boost to Cedar Rapids amphitheater

UPDATED: The Hall-Perrine Foundation of Cedar Rapids has awarded the city a $1 million matching grant for its $8.7 million downtown riverfront amphitheater project, and three local companies have stepped up to nearly match the award.

In addition to the Hall-Perrine grant, the AEGON Transamerica Foundation and Rockwell Collins have committed $225,000 each to the project while CRST International has committed $100,000.

State, city and county funding and land donations will pay for the rest of the project's cost.

Jack Evans, president of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, told a morning news conference that the amphitheater project fits the foundation's mission of contributing to improvements that advance the community's “quality of life.”

The riverfront amphitheater will help, along with the new Event Center, the renovation of the Paramount Theatre and the new library, to transform the downtown in a few short years, Evans said.

West-side council member Chuck Wieneke told the morning gathering that the amphitheater is being designed and built to be the city's first piece of a new flood-protection system even as it will be an entertainment venue.

There has been much discussion locally about the Army Corps of Engineers' flood-protection plans for the city - called a first step by the city - which don't provide protection for the west side of the river. The amphitheater project, Wieneke said, is the first piece of the flood-protection system and “it's starting on the west side,” he emphasized.

The amphitheater project now is leaping to the forefront of the community's agenda as the city heads to Des Moines next week in an effort to secure a state River Enhancement Community and Tourism grant for $2 million to go along with a $1.075 million I-JOBS disaster grant the city already has received for the project.

The city has talked for a decade or more about building an outdoor riverfront amphitheater.

The one now planned will be designed to flood.

The state I-JOBS money for the project will pay for work, expected to start in the spring, to build a levee at the site. The other funds will be used to build the amphitheater into the levee in 2012.

The venue then should be open in 2013. It is expected to attract 52 events - including six to eight touring shows - and 57,300 patrons a year, the city has estimated.

The amphitheater is expected to be designed to handle crowds of up to 5,000 people, Gail Loskill, with the city's Parks and Recreation Department, said Wednesday.