BENTONVILLE — The long-awaited Osage Creek amphitheater is on schedule for a full season of concerts and other events beginning in June 2014, the Benton County Planning Board was told Wednesday.
Greg Smith, the facility’s owner, and Tim Sorey, the project engineer, both told the board the Osage Creek Events Center, which has been in the development process since 2004, is taking shape.
Smith and Sorey gave the board an update on the project, including some changes to restrooms, concessions and food storage areas, and other support buildings. The amphitheater stage and seating, along with the parking areas, remain unchanged.
“We anticipate having a full season from June of next year,” Smith told the board “We are approximately 65 percent there right now.”
Smith told the board he didn’t think the recent decision to move the Arkansas Music Pavilion from Fayetteville to Rogers will affect his operation.
“I think there’s enough room in the area to support both facilities,” Smith said. “It’s not a competition.”
Sorey and Smith said the largest remaining issue is the water supply to the facility. An application has been sent to the state Health Department for a proposed water well and some comments have been received from the Health Department, Smith said, but a test well must still be drilled, and core samples sent to Little Rock for testing. Smith said there are two wells on adjacent properties that could supply water if the proposed on-site well isn’t approved.
Sorey said he’s waiting for approval of the water supply so a wastewater system can be designed and plans for the center completed. He said he’ll continue to work with the planning staff to keep the board informed.
The board also reviewed the application for the proposed whitewater park on the Illinois River near Siloam Springs. The park is being designed and built with the support of the Walton Family Foundation which will turn the park over to Siloam Springs once completed. The city will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the park, which is to be adjacent to the new Fisher Ford Bridge over the Illinois River. The application was approved by the Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Committee and will be discussed at the board’s July 3 meeting.
The committee also recommended applications for a pavilion for the New Life Fellowship Church in Pea Ridge and a storage warehouse for Center Point Contractors, both on Arkansas 72 in Pea Ridge, be moved to public hearings at the July 3 meeting.