WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains has been awarded a $202,137 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to help fund the construction of an outdoor amphitheater just west of the Smith-London Centennial Bell Tower between Franklin and Pennsylvania Avenues.
The 50/50 matching grant is being funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The grant application, which was developed with the assistance of Johnny Murrell and the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments (SCOCOG), was one of 11 approved for funding by the NPS for a total of $3 million, DNR officials said.
YEARS IN THE PLANNING
With the award, the university can now move forward with a project that’s been in the planning stages for a decade, Chancellor Drew Bennett said. “We have been dreaming about an amphitheater for almost 10 years,” he said. “Our development office began soliciting donations to support the idea of an amphitheater seven years ago, and the concept soon appeared in our visioning guide. Finally, it has moved from a dream and a concept into a reality!”
The university’s matching portion of the $404,274 project will come from donations, cash and in-kind, Bennett pointed out. “A significant aspect of this project is that it will be built without the use of operational funds or reserves,” he noted.
POTENTIAL USES
The 850-seat venue will provide the university and the greater West Plains community an outdoor venue for spectator events, concerts, rallies, films and theatrical performances, Bennett said. Utilizing the natural terrain of the area, seating will face a theatrical-style stage, providing an enjoyable atmosphere and environment in which to view entertainment, he added.
In addition to the university’s use, the amphitheater will be available by reservation through the University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department for activities and events sponsored by various community and private organizations and the general public, Bennett said.
Funds from the grant also will be used to acquire a house and property at the corner of Franklin and West Main Streets adjacent to the bell tower, which will create accessibility and higher visibility to the amphitheater, said Scott Schneider, director of business and support services.
NEXT STEPS
While the concept for the amphitheater’s design is in place, construction plans still need to be developed, Schneider said, so the next step will be the hiring of an architect to complete those plans. After the plans have been developed and approved, the project will then go out for bid sometime in early 2018, he added.
“With the addition of the renovation of the old post office into Hass-Darr Hall, the amphitheater will provide a ‘book-end’ to our campus footprint,” Bennett said. “The amphitheater project will complete the transformation of our campus and enhance the college experience of our students by bringing Missouri State-West Plains to the next level.”