On October 22, slightly more than a year after Lake George Village’s Shepard Park bandstand was destroyed by a June 30, 2024 fire, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a $5.5 million amphitheater that will include a new, state-of-the-art bandshell.
The administration of Governor Kathy Hochul, which contributed $1.5 million toward the project, using funds derived from the $9.7 million grant which the state awarded Lake George as part of a Downtown Revitalization Initiative, was represented by Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley, a former Assemblyman from Brooklyn.
“Whether it’s live entertainment on a summer night or community gatherings that bring people together throughout the year, the upgrades to the Shepard Park Amphitheater will strengthen the sense of connection and pride that defines Lake George,” Mosley stated in prepared remarks. “By investing in spaces where people can gather, celebrate and enjoy the natural beauty around them, we’re not only bringing the community closer together, we’re also supporting the local economy and attracting visitors from near and far. This project reflects Governor Hochul’s steadfast commitment to empowering communities to grow in ways that make them more connected, welcoming and resilient.”
Once he learned that the June 30 fire was confined to the 1980 bandshell and that no one was injured, Mayor Ray Perry said he recognized that Lake George was presented with an opportunity to build back bigger and better.
“The new performance venue will be a game-changer for Lake George and the whole area. We’ll be able to cater to the larger, national acts while retaining the regional acts,” Perry said, noting that in the past, some renowned bands had declined invitations to perform because the old bandstand didn’t meet their needs.
A $2.9 million grant secured through the office of New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie will fund the construction of the new bandshell.
A bid from Saratoga-based Bonacio Construction for $2.798, 000 to build the bandshell was accepted by the Lake George Village Board of Trustees on September 16.
“Knowing what Sonny Bonacio has done in Saratoga, I’ve been eager to work with his company,” said Mayor Perry. “I couldn’t be happier that a company of that quality was willing to come to work in Lake George at a reduced rate.”
Contracts for paving, sidewalk construction, site work, mechanical & plumbing work and electrical work were also awarded on September 16.
A $480,000 contract for an outdoor audio/visual system from Live Sound and a $10,000 contract for fire suppression capabilities were not awarded until October 22.
The $1,562,000 contract for site work will include the costs of reconstructing portions of the 115-year-old native stone tiered seating, as designed by Saratoga Springs-based Studio A Landscape Architecture and Engineering.
“We will work with Champlain Stone in Warrensburg to match the original as closely as possible,” said the firm’s co-founder, Jeff Anthony.
Since the Village Trustees’ September 16 meeting, the Board has secured $6.3 million in short term financing, which Perry described as similar to a credit line, allowing the Village to complete construction of the new amphitheater by June, 2026.
“The funds to be used in construction are reimbursement grants; we have to spend the money before we can be reimbursed,” explained Dan Barusch, the Director of Zoning Planning for the Village and the Town of Lake George. “Once we’re reimbursed, we’ll pay the debt off.”
Some aspects of the original plan for the new amphitheater, such as a fully accessible walkway and additional seating, are being deferred until sources of funding have been identified.
One feature that lacked funding – a new playground – will be installed as the result of a donation by the Crocitto family, owners of the Holiday Inn, Barusch said.
“Although this amphitheater will be smaller than SPAC and other large outdoor venues, it will be of the same quality,” said Barusch. “It will usher in a new era for Lake George – that of a true cultural destination.”
