Oswego Village Board chooses design for outdoor amphitheater

The Oswego Village Board has selected a design for a proposed open-air, outdoor amphitheater and entertainment venue planned on the village's far west side.

The venue will be located on a three-acre parcel adjacent to the Oswego Junction shopping center at the northwest corner of Orchard and Mill roads, with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway tracks bordering the site to the north.

Kevin Fialko, Oswego Junction owner, donated the amphitheater site to the village last October. Under terms of the donation agreement, the village is required to develop a "venue for outdoor live performance and music entertainment and events to be enjoyed by the public" on the site within three years.

After receiving comments from residents during a July 1 open house on the project, board members instructed village staff Tuesday evening, July 14 to select a design for the facility as prepared by architects previously retained by the village. The design features a curved roof of dark metals and wood with lights, that covers a stage, a brick backstage area and a space for future changing rooms.

The design selected by the board was the one preferred by ​​​​84 percent of the ​​​​​​ 132  area residents who offered comments on the project during the open house.

The board's fiscal 2021 budget includes a $750,000 line item to pay for the construction of the amphitheater and the adjoining site. The budget for the project would include the covered stage, a park-like area, and the service corridor for tour buses or support vehicles. The village has also applied for a $750,000 grant from the state to assist with the project.

The village has not yet found out if they earned the state grant, Village Administrator Dan DiSanto told the board. At the Aug. 4 meeting of the board, DiSanto hopes to have an answer on the grant, and trustees may accordingly discuss moving forward with construction bids.