Local amphitheater project to receive $2 million in READI funds

Blue River Memorial Park will get an amphitheater before it adds a new sports complex.

Blue River Memorial Park will get an amphitheater before it adds a new sports complex.

The City of Shelbyville announced last week its desire to use READI 1.0 funds originally designated for the creation of an indoor sports complex that would include hardcourt and artificial turf space dedicated to basketball, volleyball, soccer and football use at Blue River Memorial Park for two READI 2.0 proposals, including the construction of an amphitheater in the city’s largest park.

The proposed sports complex, which required $2.5 million in READI 1.0 funds, would be owned and operated by a private company and would have limited use for local residents. The original proposal for the facility estimated it would attract 140,000 visitors to Shelbyville which would result in 26,000 hotel room nights and an economic boost of $30 million per year.

“We’ve had a hard time getting their financial team in the same meeting with the two guys we’ve been talking to and getting on the same page,” said Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson following Monday’s Common Council meeting at City Hall.

The sports complex project is not dead, according to Furgeson. There is a deadline to spend READI 1.0 funding so the city is pivoting where it wants to allocate funds.

The amphitheater project has long been desired by many in the community and Blue River Memorial Park already has a large dirt mound in place to provide lawn seating for performances.

Following approval from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the amphitheater project will receive $2 million. The goal is to break ground in December once the final design is complete, according to Furgeson.

The city will allocate the remaining $500,000 to Shelby County Players to assist with the creation of a new performance center on the city’s west side.

Tom Hession Drive

Furgeson also updated the council Monday on a renewed focus to complete the final two phases of Tom Hession Drive.

Phase one runs south from E 400 North (Fairland Road) to W 300 North. Phase two would continue on W 300 North for approximately one mile.

“Phase two is already designed. The land acquisition was done back when I was mayor (2004-2011),” said Furgeson.

Phase three will then connect W 300 North to Mausoleum Road in Shelbyville’s Industrial Park.

“We’ve had two different serious looks from companies (about land in the area) but without building that road I don’t think we will get anywhere,” said Furgeson.

Phase three is not yet designed but Furgeson stated his goal to get that project underway in the spring of 2025.