Construction workers and equipment are once again on site at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in Bell Park, following a lull in construction activity.

The tender for the construction of the new amphitheatre, awarded to local builders Tribury Construction, was approved at a city council meeting July 14.

“The amphitheatre, which was demolished earlier this year, has been redesigned by Castellan James and Partners Inc. with input from the city,” a press release from the city said.

“This is a thrilling moment in our community's history,” John Rodriguez, Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury, said. “I'm excited to see work beginning, and excited to think about the fabulous entertainment that citizens will be able to enjoy less than 12 short months from now. The Grace Hartman Amphitheatre is a piece of our past — but renewed, revisited, e-imagined — it will be an even larger piece of our future.”

The new $5 million amphitheatre will feature 450 hard seats and 1,500 soft seats in the grass surrounding the stage. That number could be increased if a provincial grant application is approved, city officials said.

Provisions are also being made to incorporate foundation supports that will allow for the possible addition of a roof over the seating bowl in the future. Some city councillors, such as Ward 8 Coun. Ted Calalghan, fought at city council to include a roofing structure, arguing that community festivals suffer financially if the weather is inclement. He is honourary chair of Summerfest, held each year in late August.

Community festivals, such as the Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games, Summerfest, Northern Lights Festival Boréal and many smaller events, which traditionally use the venue, should have no problem having access to the venue for events next summer, city officials said. The terms of the funding from upper levels of government require work to be finished by March 31.

The construction of the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre is made possible by a three-way funding arrangement under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, a partnership between municipalities, the provinces and the federal government.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be organized in 2011 to celebrate the grand reopening of the amphitheatre.