As originally published in the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.
The Richland Public Facilities District, or RPFD, has selected the grassroots group that has worked for decades to establish a performing arts center in the Tri-Cities to study how an existing outdoor amphitheater can better support community and cultural events.
The Arts Center Task Force is expected to take the next 12 weeks to conduct the study of the Reach Museum amphitheater, with the results informing decisions on potential improvements, funding strategies and further development of the outdoor venue.
“This is about making informed decisions and maximizing what we already have,” said Steve Wiley, RPFD’s president and former board member of the task force, in a statement. “We want to ensure any future investment reflects community priorities and long-term sustainability.”
The study, which RPFD delegated to the task force at the end of February, will consider a variety of issues, such as community demand for events, operating costs and potential programming along with the amphitheater’s existing infrastructure. There will also be opportunity for community input though details of how that will be conducted have not been released.
“This work allows us to take a practical, real-world look at how the existing venue can best serve the community,” said Blake Smith, the task force’s executive director, in a statement. “It’s an important step in clarifying what’s possible.”
The task force sought voter approval of a local sales tax a little over a year ago to fund the construction of a performing arts center near the Reach and its amphitheater in Columbia Park West. Voters rejected that effort, with more than 60% voting against it.
