Every community needs contact zones, and it’s often a nice feeling when those zones are lively places where people can come together for entertainment, discussion, relaxation, and leisure.
Our beautiful city of Ralston already features some beautiful parks and lively downtown venues, but I believe the one-of-a-kind location deserves something that does it an even greater honor. A public, outdoor amphitheater would be a lovely addition to our community with a lot of value.
Ralston is already known as a popular sight for Vermont filmmakers, but an outdoor projection screen and film festival could easily compete with the venues of Burlington. Live music could bring people to Ralston for dining and entertainment on a regular basis. The outdoor feel would even attract more folksy, authentic Vermont performers than the indie-centric venues of Burlington. Public forms could also be held here, and would likely draw more attention due to the visible nature of an outdoor discussion. This could in turn contribute to residents of Ralston having their voices heard on a more frequent basis. For economic benefit, a closed off and ticketed area with provided seating could be installed. These seats would have the best views and be relatively comfortable, encouraging people to invest in tickets. However, sticking with the accessible nature of Ralston, standing room should be available behind this seating area so that people can still participate in the entertainment.
The scale of this amphitheater should be decided by a board of community members. A larger venue will attract more use, but create more noise in town that locals may have mixed feelings about. A small venue, however, would still be advantageous to the community. Because this installation affects the larger community, the community should have a say in its design.
Despite this potential interference, such venues have been very successful in other urban centers. The Ting Pavillion in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a great example of a large and popular amphitheater that gets a lot of use without taking away from the city’s charm. A similar design in Ralston could prove effective!
An amphitheater would suit Ralston well in Ward 2, near City Hall Park, or Ward 1, west of the golf coarse. Both of these locations are noticeable from the downtown area, and easy to access for visitors from Burlington.
Ralston, Vermont's "Green Island" City 