More than two decades ago, a city master plan showed an amphitheater along the Big Sioux River as part of the future Downtown River Greenway development.
It was built but never finished as originally envisioned — until now.
“I went back in the original master plan and it had the shade structure on that amphitheater, and it was cut off for budget purposes, 15 or 17 years ago,” said Jeff Scherschlight, founder of Pendar Properties and developer of the adjacent development Cherapa Place.
After talking with performers, “they said they don’t really use it that much because later in the day is so intense. For people sitting there, it’s one thing, but when you’re playing and moving, it was too hot, and it got me thinking — it’s stupid we have this beautiful space and it’s not getting used.”
He pulled out the original drawings, met with landscape architecture firm Confluence and began contemplating how to make it happen.
It turned out the cost was less than when the project originally was bid — because at that the time the thought was a structure would need to be up all year…