Marietta. The plan is for the Main Street Program to work alongside the Griffin Downtown Council to provide exciting entertainment and cultural events for the community. Some ideas include summer concert series with music of various genres, comedy shows, dance performances, benefits, and movie nights—any entertainment that brings together a large audience. The plans are to host both free and paid admission events for the community.
always be difficult, so they are planning for a phased-in approach to complete the park if funding proceeds more slowly than expected. “The faster we raise funds, the sooner it gets completed,” McLemore said. The amphitheater and park will be in part a community effort. Raising funds for the project will be in large part from community support; the Main Street Program, Downtown Council, and the city welcome people who are interested in donating or being part of the fundraising committee. They will also hold an open forum to receive input on the final design of the park and amphitheater and on how to tie the preservation of Griffin’s history into the park. The park is for Griffin, and the citizens of Griffin are encouraged to be part of the process. The amphitheater offers great opportunity for downtown Griffin and the community. A communal gathering space for
MARIETTA AMPHITHEATER The projected space is approximately 2.7 acres and uses the old city hall building, the historic church, and the old county courthouse as the anchors. The amphitheater will hold over 1,000 people when completed. Suggestions received so far include both open area seating on sloped hills and making the amphitheater visible from any place in the park. Other accents such as benches, landscaping, and a fountain are also planned. “We want to tie as much of Griffin’s history into the park as we can to create a sense of place,” McLemore stated. Examples of ideas to highlight our area’s history include incorporating the old Sixth Street Bridge trusses, using bricks from the torn down mills in the walking paths, and recognizing notable residents from the past and present in the walkways or in some other manner. “Preserving history is more than maintaining and restoring what currently exists; it is also about creating things that can become historical,” McLemore said. “The park and amphitheater give us a chance to incorporate current historical elements as well as to create something that can be appreciated many years down the road.” Since the project is in its infancy, there is no projected date of completion. It is still in the design phase, and a fundraising goal will have to be determined before an estimated completion date can be established. While those planning the project hope that fundraising will go smoothly, obtaining funds can
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The impact of a town center, multiuse park as well as amphitheater in downtown to improve property value, curb appeal, tourism, and to provide a viable venue for nationally recognized artists and regional festivals cannot be underestimated. entertainment and cultural events will provide Griffin residents a way to interact and socialize locally, instead of going out of town for similar events. The events have the potential to attract not only locals but also people from other cities to our town, which helps local business. Said McLemore, “The project gives us the chance to establish a greater identity when it comes to the arts and create something beautiful downtown that hopefully breathes some life into the area.” Speaking as a lifelong resident of Griffin, a father, and a promoter of events in downtown, Ben Johnson said, “This is a chance for this generation to create something substantial and leave Griffin better than we found it, without having to ask taxpayers to foot the bill.” ACCORDING TO KENWIN HAYES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO PROVIDE INPUT REGARDING THE PROJECT AT A DESIGN CHARRETTE ON MAY 12, 6-8 PM AT THE GRIFFIN WELCOME CENTER.
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