New amphitheater ‘going to have a big impact’ | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

From left, Mayor Terrill Hill, Commissioner Justin Campbell, City Manager Don Holmes, General Services Director Jonathan Griffith and Commissioner Rufus Borom were among volunteers pouring sweat equity into the riverfront amphitheater project Tuesday morning.
Positively Putnam FL

Volunteers and employees from Lowe’s of Palatka, the city of Palatka and Rotary Club of Palatka descended on the St. Johns River site of Palatka’s new amphitheater Tuesday to speed along landscaping work on the soon-to-be-complete project.

The amphitheater project came together quickly this spring and summer when Palatka applied for and won $100,000 from the Lowe’s 100 Hometowns program celebrating the company’s centennial. Rotary Club of Palatka has pledged an additional $50,000, and the city of Palatka is providing support and some labor from its general services staff.

The new amphitheater replaces a 40-year-old structure that had become dated and could not accommodate many events. It will feature a covered area for performances, an audio system and lighting along with a front-row view of the St. Johns River.

“This is going to help us bring more quality events down at the riverfront,” Palatka Commissioner Rufus Borom said. “We want to thank everybody who is a part of this, helping get this grant and serving our community better.”

Lowe’s Manager Brian Rau predicted, “It’s going to have a big impact on downtown Palatka. For a small town, that means everything in the world.”

Employees from the Palatka Lowe’s and surrounding counties joined the mayor, two commissioners, the city manager, 17 Rotarians and others in laying sod and spreading mulch starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday. A splendid day of fall Florida weather cooperated with the project and the work went quickly.

“The next step is to have the vertical structure go up,” Palatka General Services Director Jonathan Griffith said. “It’s being delivered next Monday and we hope to have it up by the end of the month.”

Palatka was one of only three Florida communities selected for the Lowe’s 100 Hometowns program, which awarded $10 million split among 100 cities in 37 states for the company’s hundredth birthday. There were 2,200 applicants.

Rotary President Robert Mills complimented members who participated in the landscaping project. He told Rotarians at the group’s noon Tuesday luncheon the club’s involvement represents a strong statement of its commitment to the community.