Daviess County Fiscal Court is moving forward with having conceptual designs drawn up for the addition of an outdoor stage/amphitheater at Yellow Creek Park along with a major reconfiguration of the baseball and softball diamonds.
The projects will not be finished by the end of the current Fiscal Court members’ terms, but having having the designs completed allows the incoming members gain knowledge of what the costs would be and whether they want to move forward.
“As I have talked to the candidates [and incoming elected officials], we’re going to have all the prep work and [they] will have to decide whether to go forward or not,” said Judge-Executive Al Mattingly.
The conceptual design for the amphitheater is expected to be capped at $10,000, with some additional fees such as surveying work. The design and work will be completed by Clements Wimsatt Architects PLLC. Their team includes someone who previously helped design the Beaver Dam Amphitheater. The conceptual design is expected to be completed by November 18.
The outdoor stage would be located in the large field between Shelter #3 and the Nature Center — near the typical location for the stage at ROMP Fest. That would help alleviate the Bluegrass Museum and Hall of Fame from having to rent a stage each year.
Mattingly said he has also talked to members of the Hall of Fame and said that they are also behind the idea.
Steve Johnson, Vice Chair of the Hall of Fame, said “We had a meeting with you judge and other members of the court, and we certainly appreciate the input was provided then and certainly want to be involved in this.”
The conceptual design for the ball diamonds is expected to be completed in two weeks. Previously, it was announced that Fiscal Court was exploring a cloverleaf-style configuration, where four fields would back up to a central concession stand. To free up additional space, the maintenance buildings could be moved to the back of Yellow Creek Park with entry off Reid Road.
County Engineer Mark Brasher said that the cost of the concept is not to exceed $3,600 and will be done by Axiom Architecture.
Mattingly said he hopes Fiscal Court can hold a forum with stakeholders to discuss the desires of the two projects, similar to the one they held previously.
“Stakeholders are tax-paying citizens of Daviess County. So I would hope that we would have a forum where it was open to the public,” Mattingly said.
