During public input sessions for The City of Shelbyville Parks Department 2017 Master Plan, Shelbyville residents expressed a desire for live entertainment in our parks. The discussion specifically referenced an outdoor amphitheater venue. Following the master plan, a professional grade cross country course was built in the same proximity as the planned outdoor theater. This cross-country course is one of the best in the country and has recently hosted the Big 10 Athletic Conference’s men’s and women’s cross-country finals. The course is also the home course for NCAA Division 3 Franklin and Earlham colleges and hosts many high school and middle school events, drawing over ten thousand athletes and supporters to Shelby County annually.

The construction of a viewing/seating mound has already been completed. This mound will serve as seating for an outdoor concert performance and for spectators of a cross country event. The infrastructure to serve an amphitheater is located within a short distance of the proposed location, making the costs negligible. READI dollars will be used for engineering design, sitework, and construction of the amphitheater. Partnering with the City of Shelbyville, this project is expected to take place from May 2024 through October 2025.