Politics & Government
Plymouth Renovates Hilde Performance Center
The popular music venue in Plymouth received improvements this year. The city invested $1.2 million and plans to invest about the same amount again in the future.
As Larry Willers walked along the trail near the Plymouth's outdoor amphitheater he couldn’t help but take in the new scenery.
“This place looks really sharp,” the Plymouth resident said. “They’ve made some great changes here.”
Willers is talking about the $1.2 million renovation of the Hilde Performance Center tucked behind . New trails were put in, a second stage was added and a new fountain sits inside the park. Other subtle adjustments were made as well, including improved electrical and irrigation work and a new cement pad for vendors to use during busy events.
“The changes made to the Hilde Performance Center have been really well received,” Plymouth Park and Recreation Director Diane Evans said. “It’s always been a top notch venue but these improvements just push it up to the next level.”
While the Hilde Center is used two to three times a week for various events, the main attraction at the site each year is Music in Plymouth. This annual concert, put on by the Plymouth Civic League, drew 15,000 people this year with the Minnesota Orchestra headlining the show. The concert is so popular, in year’s past people have come the night before to lay out blankets and claim their spot for the big show.
“It’s hard to say which improvement made the most difference,” said President of the Plymouth Civic League Barbara Willis. “The regrading allowed room for another 2,000 people to watch the concert comfortably, but the improved electric and flat cement pad really made a difference to our vendors.”
Construction started last year right after Music in Plymouth and finished in time for the 39th annual event this summer. While the improvements were needed to update the facility, Evans said the city isn’t done yet.
“We have another phase of construction planned for 2013, which will only add to the beautiful improvements we’ve just made,” she said.
In two years, the city would like to spend another $1.2 million of it’s community development funds to further enhance the park. The money, which can only be used for community projects, would add a new entrance to the Center right off Plymouth Boulevard. This new entrance would make the park more visible from the road.
“Once the entire project is complete it will really become the focal point of the city,” Willis said. “The whole park will be visible and even more lovely than it is now.”
