Red Bank receives amphitheater funds

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Red Bank commissioner Ruth Jeno

The sound of live music may start wafting down Dayton Boulevard on weekend evenings later this year, thanks to funding the city of Red Bank has received to build an amphitheater in one of the public parks.

"This is just a wonderful thing for our city," said Red Bank Commissioner Ruth Jeno, who lobbied local agencies for funding for the project.

The city's commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday night to accept $50,000 of funding for the park from the Red Bank and Soddy-Daisy Charitable Foundation and two Hamilton County commissioners.

The amphitheater will be built in the green space of the Red Bank city park located at Dayton Boulevard and Unaka Street, known by many as the "Kids' Corner Park."

The Red Bank Soddy-Daisy Foundation -- which administers funds from the sale of Erlanger North -- gave $30,000 for the project, while Hamilton County Commissioners Jim Fields and Joe Graham each gave $10,000 from their discretionary funds.

"Those donations are allowing us to build something much bigger and more elaborate than we were originally hoping for," said Mayor Monty Millard.

Tim Thornberry, the city's director of Public Works, said the planning for the venue is at rudimentary stages, and said he didn't yet have an estimation of the amphitheater's size or design.

Barbara Brogdon, head of the Red Bank Arts Committee and owner of The Gallery on Dayton Boulevard, said the amphitheater will be a major factor in the committee's quest to bring more art to the city.

"We're definitely excited about the possibility about having a lot more cultural events in Red Bank through this," said Brogdon.

During Tuesday's meeting, commissioners learned that another one of the of the city's parks will receive some sprucing up. The Red Bank Lions Club has donated 70 trees that soon will be planted at White Oak Park.