A new stage is under construction for the Bow Valley Park south of Oxbow.
Construction on the stage started Monday morning, and is expected to take about a month. It is slated to be finished in time for the Bow Valley Jamboree on July 28, an event that attracts people from throughout the southeast for numerous musical acts.
The stage’s pilings have been installed, and the materials for the floor and the roof have arrived.
Brad Mayer, who is the chairperson for the Oxbow and District Arts Committee, said the new stage will carry multiple benefits.
“We’re hoping that people can have weddings or reunions or different activities down there in our park,” said Mayer.
The new stage is the same dimensions as the structure that the committee rents for the jamboree, at 24 feet wide and 40 feet long.
“The stage is going to be sheltered from the top and sides and back,” said Mayer.
At some point, they would like to have lighting attached to the stage, but for now the committee will continue to rent its lights.
The new stage has a budget of $50,000, and Mayer is confident the project will be within budget.
The committee successfully applied for grants to cover some of the costs, and they also received donations from the community. They held fundraisers such as open mic nights, house concerts and school concerts.
And now Mayer is excited to see the stage under construction after so many years of work.
