Brewer park will get an amphitheater for outdoor performances

A 4-acre hillside park in Brewer is going to get an amphitheater to host outdoor performances.

Brewer city councilors on Tuesday approved a $265,000 contract with Lou Silver Inc., a Veazie-based construction company, to build amphitheater-style seating at Indian Trail Park, according to documents in the city council meeting agenda.

The city set aside $300,000 in fiscal year 2024’s Capital Improvement Program for the “Indian Trail Park Amphitheater Project.” The plan is to add granite seating, stairs and a paved access ramp.

The sloping park along Route 9 has hosted outdoor performances and events for many years, but the space lacked formal seating for audiences. The area has its own parking and also connects to a trail system that overlooks the Penobscot River.

Ten Buck Theatre Company, for example, has used the park for various Shakespeare productions for years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when indoor activities were limited by capacity restrictions and physical distancing requirements.

“This has been in the works for a while but was a question of where it needed to be situated,” Councilor Michele Daniels said. “Even if it is a smaller venue, it’s exciting to be able to host arts events in that area more efficiently.”

The seating area along with the grass on either side will hold 50 to 100 people. Construction must be completed by the end of 2025, according to the city’s contract.

A more formal stage area may be constructed later as a separate contract, according to documents in the city council meeting agenda.