Outdoor Theatre Energized

Unanimous vote brings Rocky Mountain Power into play

by James Wynn
Community concerts in Lander are about to get a new home after the City Of Lander voted unanimously to authorize a contract for Rocky Mountain Power to provide electricity to the Lander Outdoor Theatre.
The move came after members of the Lander Outdoor Theatre Association were able to raise almost $15,000 in donations through the Lander Rotary Foundation, the Community Foundation of Lander and private donors.
Though the donations were short of the $21,000 needed to provide power to the site, located along Baldwin Creek between the Museum of the American West and LVHS, The LOTA were also able to secure $6,700 from the Fremont County Recreation Board.
"We should have electrical capabilities out there in six to eight weeks," said Scott Harnsberger, co-chair of the Lander Outdoor Theatre Association. "We will install a green box along Baldwin Creek and that will be our power source."
The new power capabilities to the site mark the completion of the group's Phase One project that began almost six years ago. Because the property sits on Fremont County School District 1 land, an agreement between the city and the school district had to be reached. That agreement allowed for the city to maintain, administer and provide liability for a civic project on school ground.
The next step was to shape the grounds. During the construction of the new high school, dirt and fill from the excavation of the building's foundation was used to create a berm for the seating area. After the original groundscaping, an irrigation system was installed and the area was seeded for grass and trees.
"We should have everything we need for the first Hot Notes, Cool Nites concert," Harnsburger said.
When the idea for an outdoor theatre was first raised, planners realized to construct something that would eventually be able to bring large musical venues, it would have to be taken in steps.
"We just came to the conclusion that we couldn't do everything all at once," Harnsberger said. "We didn't want to start something until we had the money to actually finish it, so we began to work in phases."
According to Harnsburger, the cost of the electrical box will be $2,200 a year for the next five years.
"The city has agreed to pay for the monthly charges, which are a little over $150 a month," he said. "After five years that cost will go down to about $700 a year."
But the outdoor theater will not be the only one that will have access to that power box.
"If anyone wants to hook up to that site, including the city, than they will be able to be reimbursed for that. I'm really happy with city picking up those costs."
The next step for LOTA will be to construct a platform that performers can use for concerts.
"I think next year is a realistic time to be able to get a platform done," Harnsburger said.
LOTA plans to design the platform so that future projects will include a covered band shell that would be able to be constructed on to the existing platform.
"We are going to start the design phase for that project next," Harnsburger said.
LOTA has big plans for the concert area.
"We would like to be able to have larger venues in there," he said. "One of our goals would to bring in some armed forces bands, or even be able to bring in a larger country or rock band. It's been a struggle, but we have always had some great support. We are just taking it one step at a time."