'Enhancement construction' kicks off Monday at Vail's Gerald R. Ford Amphitheather

Guests at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater will be able to enjoy some new amenities when the 2013 summer season rolls around as the first of three enhancement construction phases at the venue gets underway Monday, September 24.

The Amphitheater enhancement is part of the larger Ford Park renovation project that will also include improvements on both upper and lower benches of the park.

“We are very excited about all the enhancements that will be taking place throughout Ford Park over the coming years,” explained Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation, “not only from an Amphitheater perspective, but also for the entire park experience. The Ford Park renovation effort truly represents a public and private partnership of key entities within the Vail community to provide a wonderful tribute to President and Mrs. Ford that will be enjoyed by residents and guests forever.”

Phase I Amphitheater projects will include the construction of restrooms on the east side of the venue, along with the terracing of the general admission lawn seating area that surrounds the back of the pavilion seating area. A small terrace will also be constructed to the west of the Borgen Family Plaza, overlooking the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.

Additionally, cosmetic changes to the Amphitheater are slated to include a new stucco color, additional stone façade and new counter tops for the concession areas. Phase I is scheduled to be completed by the first week of June, with no impact to the 2013 summer season.

Construction on Phases II and III will take place in the fall of 2013 and 2014 respectively, with Phase II including the construction of a new Social Courtyard, located outside the current main entrance to the facility.

The first phase of the Ford Amphitheater component of the overall project is partially funded by a portion of the former Town of Vail Conference Center Funds, the distribution of which Vail voters approved in a special election last November. The Vail Valley Foundation will raise the remainder of the Phase I price tag through private funding.

Over the course of the next three years, both upper and lower benches of Ford Park will undergo a dramatic facelift, currently dubbed Ford Gardens, involving not only the Vail Valley Foundation and the Ford Amphitheater, but also the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Vail Recreation District.

The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is a project of the Vail Valley Foundation. To learn more about the Amphitheater or the Foundation, visit www.vvf.org.

The Vail Valley Foundation is charged with enriching the Vail Valley and sustaining its unique spirit through the delivery of unparalleled arts, world class athletics and inspiring education programs throughout the community.