This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Outdoor Theater Coming Soon to Township Park

Last April, a deeply divided Township Board launched a plan to borrow over $1.5 Million to fund several new construction projects at Township Park and at the golf course, against the recommendations of three board members.   Among those was a $250K “amphitheater” at the park. Its scope is to:

“… construct a new outdoor 250 to 350 seat ampitheatre… for children’s productions including puppet shows, story time and music, high school group performances including performing arts and small musical productions; community band; small music groups; dance productions; community theater groups and Shakespeare in the Park. (…) sound amplification is not required.”  (Emphasis added) 

That is the extent of the Township’s plan.  There was no feasibility study or business plan; no committed named user groups; no revenue or expense projections; nothing but “it sounds really cool” for its business plan with claims that user groups that are already successful at other venues in the area will be interested in using a facility of this kind. Over the last several months some residents have learned of the project (but not the scope or the actual cost) and several have attended board meetings. All have spoken out against the project, while not a single resident has spoken for it.

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The Board is set to hire an architect on April 15 and there will be no turning back.   The bid document states that

 “…the construction budget for the project is $250,000 to $350,000. 

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While not part of this construction budget or proposal, long range desires including an irrigation system, backstage dressing/prep area, audio-visual system/equipment and seating for 400.  The site design should allow for future construction of these elements.” 

Not a shovel of dirt has been dug, yet the cost has already ballooned to more than twice what the taxpayers were promised.  And that doesn’t include ongoing maintenance, the cost of a full time event planner and fees for architects and other professional services.

No one, including me, knows for sure whether the taxpayers want this facility because the taxpayers haven’t been asked nor are they going to be asked.  There were no forums, no surveys, no voting, no expert testimony, no public input.  Input was not solicited and it is not wanted.  No questions, please. Incidentally, taxpayers weren’t asked about the $800,000 “pavilion” currently under construction either. 

Also on April 15, the Board will approve a $9,000 survey to ask residents about their recreation wants.  They won’t ask if residents want regional cooperation in recreation, an amphitheater or an expensive new golf course entrance despite the fact that those questions would add no additional cost to the survey.  I can only assume that the administration refused to ask residents about these projects because they really don’t want to know the answers.  Shouldn’t residents be asked what they want in THEIR community, or should it be left entirely up to a one vote margin on a divided board?

This entire program needs a critical review.

So I sought the opinions of three local experts on event management and raising money. They are experts, for sure, and you will see that their bios speak for themselves, although some may try to discredit them because of their association with the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC) project at Central Middle School.  The thoughts of these experts are reflected in the paragraphs that follow, as these are their thoughts – not mine.

Deb Madonna, a lifelong resident was President of the Plymouth Community Arts Council (PCAC) for 7 years and a member for 20; Chairperson of the children’s Music in the Park program for 20 years; President of the Miracle League for 5; on the Karmanos Cancer Board for 7 as well as a volunteer to many other charities.  She knows how to raise money and knows what sponsors will and will not support. She gives more to the community than anyone I have ever met and does so without a dime of compensation.  Expert.

Don Soenen, a 44 year resident of Plymouth Township, is President of the Michigan Philharmonic, a position he has held for much of the past 18 years.  He’s a successful business owner with international operations.  He built and operated Center Stage, a very successful performing arts center in Canton during the 1980’s.  He had leadership roles in the building of the Village Theater at Cherry Hill, and saving the historic Penn Theater in Plymouth.  He’s coordinated the audio and lighting production for many outdoor concert performances. Expert.

John Itsell is a concert specialist with 25+ years of experience in promoting and producing events and overseeing concert venue operations.  Has served as Vice President for; Cellar Door Productions of Michigan, SFX Entertainment of Michigan, and Palace Sports & Entertainment (Event Department). Expert.

John writes,

“Amphitheatre success stories are few and far between.  The rare success stories are driven by large; gross receipts, sponsorship sales, beer sales, and parking revenues.  Municipal entities entering into such a business must be willing and able to fund annual programming budgets, administrative costs, operating budgets, and event expenses.  Simply put, the show related expenses and operating/administrative/programming budgets will far exceed collected revenues.  If the intent of this project is to undermine Kellogg Park/City of Plymouth offerings, it will be the people of Plymouth Township that will feel pain by being forced to underwrite substantial annual monetary losses because of this misdirected and poorly researched/planned initiative.  The success of the Kellogg Park programming is due to its prized downtown charm and location.  This setting takes advantage of its built-in audience which capitalizes on its many restaurants, bars, and retail/entertainment options.” 

Many of these programs already exist in other venues around the Plymouth community and the Township will have to draw from or compete with them, creating yet more division between the Township and it’s neighbors.  The proposed children’s and music programs aren’t original or creative, they are simply an effort to take success from others.  Competing with the Arts Council, the Philharmonic and community theaters hurts everyone.

Paradoxically, the Township has to hope that their programs are popular but not too popular.  The proposed space is limited to small crowds and if the programs start drawing too many people, they will have to be shut down as the park will be overwhelmed.  And let’s hope no events are planned during baseball games, which already fill the parking lot.

Some additional reasons it won’t work include:

Theatres must have amplification or you won’t hear actors, musicians or puppeteers from more than a few feet away, especially with noisy children in the audience.  Amplification is inevitable, despite the promises, and I will bet you lunch that it will be not more than a year or two until a loudspeaker system is installed.

Theaters must have a back wall and a roof or the sound will disappear into the air.  

Plays have props that have to be stored.  Stage lighting is a must.  There is no sheltered area close to the proposed amphitheater.  Few musicians will risk bringing their expensive equipment on bad weather days.  And of course, forget about bringing spectators from senior and day care centers as their busses are not allowed in Township Park.

You have to have sponsors for everything as you cannot sell tickets and theatre groups do not perform for free, even community theatre groups.  Sponsorships at events that draw 200-300 people are few and far between and no one is likely to sponsor unamplified music for 300 people.

Dance groups dance to music and music must be amplified.

Children’s Music in the Park draws 2,000 to 3,000 people per week, mostly mothers with their young children.  It works because families can spread out a blanket in the shade and park their strollers.  Mothers don’t like to leave their babies out in the hot sun.  Food options are nearby, there is ample parking, and plenty of room for everyone.  Strollers are everywhere but they cannot be wiggled into the tiered seating of the Township amphitheater.  Kids do not want to sit, they want to dance and run and jump and sing.

The Plymouth Community Band is a volunteer band that plays concerts to large crowds on Thursday evenings.  They play at night, at the same time as the baseball games.  The crowd is mostly seniors who are most comfortable in the shade in their own chairs - not on a hard surface tiered seating.    

High school performances are held are night during the school year, not during the day in the summer. This one is odd though.  Five Board members want nothing to do with the Central PARC project because – as Trustees have stated, it is in the city, theaters for the high schools are the School Board’s problem, and worst of all – Township taxpayers would be paying for facilities that benefit kids outside of the Township.  Yet those same Trustees are eager to build an outdoor stage with Township taxpayer money that will be partly used by school kids from Canton, Plymouth and Westland.  Hypocrisy knows no limits here.

So here is the point.  This hasn’t been thought through.  There are more issues.  The project needs to be stopped in its tracks and re-evaluated.  The taxpayers should be asked.  They deserve that.  The Township should develop a credible business plan.  The taxpayers deserve that too.  One that has firm contracts from user groups, believable revenue projections and a full disclosure of all costs on a 5 year rolling basis.  No hidden or buried costs.  The taxpayers deserve that too.  

It’s not much to ask and is not that hard to do.   After all, this Board is moving the Township forward, isn’t it – or is it pushing the Township straight off of a financial cliff.  Please do your homework first, respect other people’s money and don’t spend half a million dollars on something only because it sounds like it would be really cool to have.    

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