The Kenai subcommittee tasked with brainstorming recommendations for a future outdoor event space met Tuesday evening. There they prioritized the components of the stage and created a phased installation plan for the space.
Chair Brian Gabriel with the Kenai Outdoor Opportunity Location Committee led the round table exercises where members decided the top priority of the space would be a five foot high covered stage.
Gabriel: “So what we were tasked with here today was to sort of look at the most important things that we’d like to see prioritized if you will the components of that park to be phased in.”
The total cost estimate for the list of components the committee would like to eventually see in Millennium Square is $1.2 million.
As a member of the city council, Gabriel says breaking the component costs into four installation phases of $300,000 or less is more realistic to be approved by council.
The initial 20 by 30 foot stage priced out by administration would have cost around $237, 000, however the committee determined it will recommend a larger stage of 30 by 40 foot.
KOOL Committee Priority Recommendations for event space:
- Five foot high elevated stage with a covering that extends past the stage apron
- Stage to be at least 1200 square feet total
- A backstage or staging area for the stage
- Stage lighting, power, and a technical station that is separate from vendors
- Acoustics considerations/modular sides for the stage that may be opened/closed
- Flexibility to accommodate different events, deal with varying weather
- Permanent restrooms and water
KOOL Committee’s Recommended Phases for the Installation of Components:
Phase 1: Construction of a 30 foot by 40 foot, elevated, covered stage which will cost more than the $237,000 estimated for the initial stage.
Phase 2: Installation of the one acre spectator area ($80,040) and one and a half acre event area ($58.374), along with a permanent restroom with utilities ($140,208).
Phase 3: Installation of 18, 20 by 20 foot Vendor Spaces with water and power ($118,680)
Phase 4: Installation of a 200 space parking lot ($550,012.80)