Oswego trustees this week authorized village staff to prepare a request for proposals for an architect to work on the proposed entertainment venue in town, which officials said would be small and “community-based.”
Oswego accepted a land donation for an outdoor entertainment venue last year. Oswego business owner Kevin Fialko donated the approximately three acres off of Orchard Road to the west of the former Park N Ride lot to the village for the project.
Trustees last month discussed the design, construction timeline and budget for a sheltered pavilion to serve as a “community asset” for the general public to gather for events.
The Village Board subsequently approved a $20,300 contract with Oswego-based Schoppe Design Associates to get some preliminary designs for the project.
The new request for proposals would solicit architectural and engineering firms with “significant” experience in the development, design and construction of entertainment venues to guide the village in the “size, scale and look of the project” as well as engage the community about the project, according to Village Administrator Dan Di Santo in a report to trustees.
The village would create a committee of staff and Village Board members to review and evaluate the proposals, as was done for the village’s new police headquarters.
Any potential contract with an architectural firm would go to the Oswego Village Board for approval.
“The request for proposals is geared towards a community concert venue, something you see in a lot of communities with a covered stage and a park-like setting,” Di Santo said.
Anything beyond the scope of a community concert pavilion, such as a bigger venue, would require a different process to hire a consultant to do a needs analysis and economic impact study, he said.
Trustee Pam Parr, the chief critic of using taxpayer dollars on an entertainment facility, cautioned doing anything on a larger scale given there are other village priorities.
“I envision something small, easy, shall I say cheap. I have no interest in a RiverEdge Park in Oswego,” Parr said, using the Aurora concert venue, which draws national entertainers and tribute bands, as an example.
Parr suggested trustees need to settle on the scope of the project.
“We have budget issues and water issues and everything in my boat comes way before an entertainment venue,” Parr said.
The request for proposals would solicit architectural firms for a “smaller community-based” venue, Di Santo said.
Other partners would have to be involved to run the management aspects of a larger venue, Trustee James Marter said.
“I don’t want us to be in the business of trying to compete with Aurora’s RiverEdge,” Marter said. “Something smaller with a community focus is fine by me.”
Oswego Village President Troy Parlier said “what we have talked about is a band shell for the community.”
He said the venue would be a place where people could gather for community performances by high school bands, theatre groups or events for charitable fundraisers.
Parlier said that every conversation he has had concerning the project is about a “band shell for the community, not a RiverEdge Park.”
Village staff is currently working on an online survey to gauge public sentiment on how the property should be used and what the preference is for events, Di Santo said in his report to trustees.
Schoppe Design Associates are also planning to meet with potential users, including Oswego-based School District 308 and the Oswegoland Park District. Eventually an open house will be held to get the public’s reaction to a design for the venue, officials said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
