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Malden advances plan for steel amphitheater cover; committee accepts $77,738 PARD grant and forwards ATAX award recommendation
Summary
City staff recommended replacing the hurricane‑damaged wooden amphitheater stage cover with a steel structure estimated at about $400,000; the committee agreed to seek an RFP and accepted a PARD grant of $77,738 toward the project while forwarding accommodations‑tax recommendations (including $100,000 for the roof) to full council.
City staff told committee members they want to replace the amphitheater’s hurricane‑damaged wooden stage cover with a steel structure that can support lighting and sound rigging and will be more durable than the previous timber cover. Staff estimated a steel structure would cost about $400,000 and asked for guidance to post an RFP and pursue multiple funding sources.
Gina McAtee, special project manager, said a steel cover would provide the load bearing capacity needed for stage rigging and lighting and would resist rot and other environmental damage that affected the prior wood structure. “A steel cover will give us more capabilities and the proper load bearing capacity to support stage rigging sound, for sound and lights, and it’ll have better long term durability,” McAtee told the committee.
Staff said they are pursuing a mix of funding. The state Parks and Recreation Division (PARD) has authorized a grant the staff listed as $77,738.20 for the project; staff asked the committee to accept the PARD grant. Committee members approved acceptance and forwarded the grant acceptance to full council with a recommendation for approval.
Staff also presented a recommendation from the city’s accommodations‑tax (ATAX) advisory committee. The ATAX advisory board reviewed applications and recommended allocating about $103,000 in available funds to two requests: $3,487.80 for marketing the Malden Blues & Jazz Festival and $100,000 for the amphitheater stage cover. The committee voted to forward the ATAX advisory board recommendation to full council for action.
Staff said they will continue to pursue additional funding sources, including county ATAX funds, other local grants, private donations and a potential 10‑year naming‑rights sponsor, and expect to return with an RFP result and a full funding plan in February.
