Mayfield Village Sets Stage for Outdoor Theater

officials have talked for years about the potential of a hillside near Parkview Pool.

"We noticed that the natural inclination of the land would make for an outdoor facility," Council President William Buckholtz said. "It can be like a miniature Cain Park or Blossom."

No plans are in the works yet, but on Monday council approved spending $37,970 for shaping land for what could be a future amphitheater.

Mayor Bruce Rinker was not at the meeting. However, Village Administrator Diane Wolgamuth said Rinker wanted to take this step first and then see what residents want and what grant funds might be available before deciding whether to proceed.

"The mayor's point of view all along was that it would evolve over time," she said. "We're going to look for funding and see if we can hook up with Fairmount Center. There are arts grants available."

Wolgamuth added that the village had free soil delivered to the site and the shaping expense was the first money spent on the project.

But Councilman William Marquardt wanted a clearer picture of any future expenses and cast the lone vote against the shaping project.

"This was not in the budget," he said. "If there is a plan in place for this amphitheater we should have this before we approve any additional amount."

Attempting to forge a compromise, Buckholtz said nothing else should be done or spent without first determining what residents want.

"We have to look at the dollars and economics of this thing," he said.

Wolgamuth said she and Recreation Director William Thomas would talk to members of the Recreation Board and get their vision of what they want to see at the site.

"We're just beginning to develop this piece of it," she said.