After months and months of constructing and planning, the City of Chesterfield is set to host the Grand Opening Event of the Chesterfield Amphitheater on Saturday, May 21.

Ever since Chesterfield residents passed the first bond issue for parks in 1994, a master plan for Central Park was developed through a public participation process, Kari Johnson, Superintendent of Recreation Operations for the City of Chesterfield, said.

“Since that time, the City has been progressing through building the various planned improvements and the amphitheater is the last major component for the Central Park improvements,” Johnson said.

The process from the birth of the idea of building an amphitheater to the announcement of the Grand Opening Event has been16 years. The last set of improvements for the Central Park were funded in November 2008 and since that time, $20 million has been spent leading up to and culminating with the amphitheater, Johnson said.

Overall, along with the building of stream walks, trails, fountain, bridges and a central plaza, $7 million went into building and funding for the creation of the amphitheater.

On the day of the opening event there will be a wide variety of acts on the amphitheater stage all day beginning at 11 a.m. from little kids’ gymnastics, dance, to school orchestras, Johnson said. There will also be bigger events like Josh Golden, Planet Boogie and Edwin McCain later in the day. Along with activities on Veterans Place Dr. starting at 10am with a Car Show, Safety Fair, inflatables, art activities by Chesterfield Arts, food vendors, balloon artist and jugglers.

Rachel O’Dell, senior, said she would love to go to the Grand Opening Event and, depending on her impression of the event, she would most likely return to see some shows later on in the summer.

“I like that the new amphitheater is closer and more convenient,” O’Dell said.

Besides concerts, the City of Chesterfield Parks and Recreation Department will host its own Concert Series and Movies Under the Stars. “Despicable Me” will be shown on Friday, June 10, “Eat, Pray, Love” on Friday, July 8, and “Toy Story 3” on Friday, Aug. 5.

“The amphitheater is the culmination of the dreams of many city residents,” Johnson said. “It creates a sense of place in the center of our community where people can congregate and socialize. It will reinforce the level of excellence and commitment to the arts that Chesterfield is proud of.”

If interested, residents may rent out the amphitheater to host different performances and activities. Residents interested in renting can go to www.chesterfield.mo.us to view the information and to fill out the permit application.