San Clemente leaders are looking to potentially expand a small community amphitheater at Forster Ranch Community Park that could seat up to 600 attendees.
It comes after officials have spent the past few years researching different locations for the amphitheater for performances like community productions and live music.
While leaders also have considered building an amphitheater at Steed Park, city council members said the best option might be expanding the small stage and seating area that already exists at Forster Ranch.
Expanding the existing amphitheater at Forster Ranch also creates a possibility of mutually beneficial partnership with the Capistrano Unified School District — some of the benefits could include a security fence being put in and the school having access to the area for activities.
During a city council meeting in August, staff members presented their findings on possible locations for a community amphitheater.
An amphitheater is something that the city has been exploring for a few years — supporters claim it would promote the city’s arts and culture and community support has remained over the years.
Staff members narrowed down the two parks as possible locations for the amphitheater that the community has been asking for; the Steed Park location is completely undeveloped while Forster Ranch already has an existing amphitheater.
Council members are expected to discuss the amphitheater again during their meeting on Nov. 10, according to City Clerk Laura Campagnolo.
Updating Forster Ranch Community Park
The Forster Ranch Community Park already has an existing stage and bowl shape — features city staff say could make it easier to build an amphitheater at.
Given the location’s assets, staff members deem it the favorable location for the community amphitheater as it would be cheaper to update the facility rather than starting from scratch.
Improvements could potentially include adding seating.
But that could cost some nearby green space as city staff say landscaping by the parking lot, including grass, some trees and shrubbery.
“I think this asset is a real gem,” City Councilmember Steve Knoblock said at the August meeting. “I wasn’t aware of it quite frankly.”
Several city officials expressed that they had no idea that there was an existing stage at the park.
“We have an amphitheater in Forster Ranch Park, and I didn’t know that,” Mayor Rick Loeffler said.
Currently, the small stage is only used for citywide activities such as Movies in the Park. However, some community members report that it’s consistently underutilized.
The stage is located adjacent to a Capistrano Unified School District property.
The city has worked with the school district before and even has a joint-use agreement for this park specifically. According to the Forster Ranch Specific Plan, the school and city already have an existing joint-use agreement regarding soccer field use and upkeep.
According to city staff, an agreement between the two would be mutually beneficial for both parties.
“I’d love to see some summer concerts and summer plays and even middle school productions that can be done there as well and band concerts,” City Councilmember Mark Enemier said during the meeting.
“And this can be a multi-use, not just for the city, but for the school right next to it as well.”
Starting from Scratch at Steed Park
The undeveloped site that also piqued staff member’s interest was Steed Park on Avenida La Plata.
The prospective amphitheater is located near the parking lot. Right now, its main use is storage for equipment and the occasional recreational activity according to the staff presentation.
This site has a natural slope and bowl shape – features city staff say would make construction easier as no reshaping needs to be done.
The only developments that would need to be made is the addition of outdoor seating that typically comes with outdoor amphitheaters, according to staff.
According to the staff report there is a parking lot directly across from the lot where the construction would take place, which could be used as potential storage space.
What Comes Next?
Based on staff support, the Forster Ranch Community Park is the more favorable location for the new amphitheater.
The location is well recognized within the community and could be positively impacted by the improvements that would be made, staff said, and the cost would be significantly less than starting completely from scratch.
After staff presented their findings in August, they were given direction by council members to research deeper on each location and come back. They need to review what upgrades would need to be and its environmental and financial impact on the community before moving ahead with either option.
City Manager Andy Hall said that even though no final decisions have been made, the city is continuing to explore the best possible uses for the existing amphitheater.
“Staff has met with some of the neighbors to obtain input and suggestions,” City Manager Andy Hall wrote in an email to Voice of OC. “We are continuing to explore the best potential use of the existing amphitheater.”
The Collegiate News Service is a partnership between Voice of OC and local student journalists. Contact the Collegiate News Service Editor Angelina Hicks at ahicks@voiceofoc.org
