City of Lawton officials proceed with plans to build amphitheater

Plans for a covered amphitheater and a boardwalk in Elmer Thomas Park are moving forward.

The projects have their roots in a decision the City Council made in August 2023, although discussions to install a roofed amphitheater over an existing concrete pad between Lake Helen and Playground in the Park have been discussed by city officials and members of the arts community for years. That amphitheater also was a recommendation made by Halff Associates when that design firm crafted a master plan for Elmer Thomas Park, suggesting amenities that could be added to increase recreational use.

The council’s discussion in August also included plans for a boardwalk along Lake Helen’s south shore.

Both projects will proceed to the preliminary design phase, with the council’s approval of a new contract with longtime consulting design firm C.H. Guernsey. Tuesday’s action set a $42,600 cost to do preliminary designs and study, with $6,100 cited as cost for a survey. The project would be funded through the 2019 Capital Improvements Program, which has a funding category for recreational and quality of life projects.

The proposal for the amphitheater means building on a concrete site that has been in place for years and also has been used for events for years. But this next phase would put a roof on that foundation, providing a covered venue for events ranging from concerts to educational programs. City staff has been involved in the discussions about exactly what that amphitheater would look like. While Arts and Humanities Administrator Jason Poudrier said the existing concrete pad is large enough to support a 1,000-seat amphitheater, council members said in August they envision a smaller venue but also one that has the potential for larger events because seating could be done in the nearby field. Poudrier and the arts community also have asked for a structure sturdy enough to support the weight of items being attached to the roof.

The plans for Lake Helen also expand what already exists.

A sidewalk has long existed along the lake’s south and west shoreline, but city staff has design plans that would extend that sidewalk around the entire lake. Completion of that project has been delayed as the city staff searches for grant funds to cover the cost. Council members said in August they also like the idea of building a boardwalk over the lake on its south shoreline, plans that Guernsey also will craft.

“We’re ready to move forward,” Mayor Stan Booker said, of plans to complete the sidewalk.