The City of Cedar Rapids is building a downtown riverfront amphitheater and levee project on the west bank of the Cedar River near the police station. This urban renewal project is the first segment of a comprehensive west side flood management system, with room for an outdoor event space. The amphitheater is anticipated to host eight national touring concerts and 20 ticketed events per year with up to 57,300 total annual attendance.
Amphitheater Description
- Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 seats
- Back wall and plaza with space for tented VIP seating
- Permanent stage with rigging and grid capabilities
- Temporary fencing for ticketed events
- Nearby Festival Park for parking area and space for vendors, concessions and portable restrooms
Levee & Floodwall Description
- Levee and floodwall from Third Avenue SW to the police helipad at the terminus of H Street SW
- Constructed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers standards to connect with future segments of the flood management system
- Levee portion: earthen fill with a slope not to exceed 3:1 and free from woody vegetation
- Floodwall portion: concrete with root-free zones
Project Timeline
- Summer 2011 - Levee construction begins
- Summer 2012 - Amphitheater construction begins
- Summer 2013 - Construction complete
- Fall 2013 - First events held
Funding Sources: Grants & Government Funds
- Vision Iowa Grant = $1.6 million
- State I-JOBS Grant = $1.075 million
- Linn County = $10,000 + $425,000 in land value
- State REAP Grant = $222,392
- City Funds = $2.199 million in land value
Funding Sources: Community Donations
- The Hall-Perrine Foundation = $1 million
- Transamerica = $225,000
- Rockwell Collins = $225,000
- IPL Alliant Energy = $180,000
- CRST International = $100,000
- John & Dyan Smith Donor-Advised Fund = $100,000
- United Fire Group = $25,000
- Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce = $25,000
- Trees Forever = $20,000
- Gazette Foundation = $15,000
- International Paper = $10,000
- The McIntyre Foundation = $5,000
- MidAmerican Energy = $5,000
- Individual Private Donations = $16,010
Project Costs
- Total Estimated Project Cost = $7 million
Public Support
An outdoor performance venue has received public support in several community-based plans:
- In the 2004 Recreation Needs Assessment Survey, live theater/concert performance and community special events were the third and fourth ranked preferred programming areas.
- In the 2007 Vision Cedar Rapids plan, a riverfront park was identified as a top priority.
- In the 2009 Neighborhood Planning Process, one of the action items identified for the central area was to create a new outdoor performance venue.
- In the 2009 Parks & Recreation Master Plan, a downtown riverfront amphitheater was identified as the most popular project.