Land Park Amphitheater Renovation

I. Introduction

The City of Sacramento, Dept. of Parks and Recreation will be solicits qualifications and sealed proposals from architects, landscape architects and/or engineering teams interested in providing professional design services for the renovation of the existing William A. Carroll Amphitheater located at William Land Park at 3800 Land Park Drive, in January 2018. The Amphitheater was developed as a depression era project by the WPA between 1935 and 1942, the horseshoe-shaped amphitheater is terraced with low retaining walls, stone steps, and a series of wood benches providing seating for some 300 with space for 200 more on the grass in front of the stage. In 1960 a semicircular concrete stage and stone-clad backdrop were added.

Today it sits little used except for Cal Middle School graduations and Sacramento City College’s “Shakespeare in the Park” series each summer. To produce the Shakespeare series, however, each year the College must do a wholesale up-grade. They bring in chain-link fences, lighting and sound equipment, and multiple portables (toilets, sound and lighting storage, ticketing, and a control booth). Even then, the facilities are barely adequate—the acoustics are bad, the stage is badly laid out, the seats are uncomfortable, the sight lines are poor, handicap-access is minimal.

The City College drama department persists because the site is so charming and has so much potential. Primitive though it may be and with all its shortcomings, this is the only amphitheater in our area, and its park setting and rough-hewn WPA architecture give it a special magic. Imagine what it could be if its shortcomings were fixed permanently—a regional attraction for plays, concerts, recitals, children’s theater, as well as a site for numerous graduations and an enhanced setting for Shakespeare’s plays.

The current bench configuration of the amphitheater seats approximately 700, this does not include any lawn seating or seating along any of the low stone walls. The historic features and characteristics of the amphitheater and stage, such as the architectural style, stone seat walls and paving, terraced seating, the distinctive landscape features including the turf in the front of the stage for informal seating, clipped hedges and Italian cypress backdrop, are to be preserved and maintained.

The City of Sacramento has set aside $750,000 for phase 1 renovation not including a 10% construction contingency. The scope of services for the renovation project will include Facility Master Planning, Construction Documentation Preparation and Bidding and Construction Support. Renovations of the amphitheater is expected to be constructed in two or more phases.

Ii. Amphitheater renovation update:

The completion of the phase 1 construction documents for the land park amphitheater renovation project have been put on hold by the city. The city has been unable to secure funding for phase 1 construction due to financial problems caused by the covid-19 virus.

  1. Increase stage area, to accommodate both theatrical and music performances, which will allow access to the audience area from the stage center.
  2. Add a cover over the stage area, to protect performers, and musicians from seasonal weather and sun exposure and to provide infrastructure support for lighting and sound equipment.
  3. Improved sound and light infrastructure, for theatrical and musical performances.
  4. Add a lighting system, throughout the amphitheater, to allow movement of patrons during and after performances.
  5. Replace the amphitheater seating, with backed benches, accessible seating, and improved sight lines to stage.
  6. Accessibility and signage improvements to the amphitheater and performance areas.
  7. Accessibility and signage improvements to the amphitheater and performance areas.
  8. Renovate the existing grass seating in front of the stage which allows picnics and casual seating during performances, and replace the turf under the amphitheater seating with decomposed granite paving, which is a more suitable and easily maintains surface.
  9. Provide an entrance that provides a sense of place, including facility name and informational signage, drop-off and pick-up area with seating options, accessible parking spaces and drinking fountain.
  10. Restroom facilities, that allow safe and convenient access from the seating area.
  11. Improved back of house area, including restroom and improved dressing room areas to accommodate the requirements for Screen Actor Guild contract performers who frequently are included in the theatrical performances.
  12. A ticket and small administrative office, to allow sale and distribution of tickets and various office and accounting necessities.
  13. The historic features and characteristics of the amphitheater and stage, such as the architectural style, stone seat walls and paving, terraced seating, the distinctive landscape features including the turf in the front of the stage for informal seating, clipped hedges and Italian cypress backdrop, are to be preserved and maintained.

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