Amphitheater nearing completion at Armory Park

The new Lovell amphitheater in Armory Park is taking shape, with the long-awaited structure rising from its foundation over the last three weeks, thanks to the work of contractor Midway Construction and Dirt Work.

After the foundation was laid last fall, Midway started work on the I-beam structure on May 15-16, then added treated cedar inlay wood and roof joists over the ensuing two weeks, Midway owner Pete Baxendale said.

“The weather has definitely slowed us down some,” Baxendale said. “I guess that’s spring in Wyoming.

The roof decking will be plywood painted black on the bottom and topped by black shingles, Baxendale said.

As for the walls, the back wall will be made of 2 by 8 treated lumber with a central 6 by 6 post, and 12-foot wing walls on either side will be made of 2 by 8 treated lumber with “a nice grain look to it,” Baxendale said.

Midway will also pour a concrete walkway from the asphalt walking path to the northwest side of the amphitheater, plus a ramp leading to the foundation floor for ease of moving equipment.

The slate stamped concrete floor of the amphitheater will be stained black and sealed. The floor will look like stonework, Baxendale noted.

“Once I stain it, it will look like stone,” he continued. “It will accentuate the stamp work.”

The final phase of the work will be the installation of overhead lighting that can be adjusted for brightness, depending on the desired ambiance, plus directional stage lights to the front.

Baxendale said the job should be finished by June 20, and there are plans for its use during the Family Fun Night on June 27.

“I’m really hopeful it will be used a lot,” Baxendale noted. “It’s too nice a venue to sit idle. Kids can play in the park (during a show).”

He noted that the original design called for an amphitheater that was about half the size of the current structure at around 450 square feet, but he put his head together with town administrator Jed Nebel to increase the size to its current 820 square feet.

“I decided that if we were going to build something, we should build something substantial that will stand for a lot of years,” he said. “I said if the town could find enough money in the budget for materials for something twice as big, I would donate the labor to make it bigger.

“I wanted to make something we could all be proud of. I wanted it to really showcase what we can do. I take a lot of pride being in this community, and donating some work is a way for me to give back to a community that has given me so much.”