Porter County officials, community members, and park staff gathered at Sunset Hill County Farm on Saturday, June 28, to cut the ribbon on the park’s new amphitheater.
The stage is designed to host everything from concerts and weddings to various functions such as yoga classes, theater performances, and more. Porter County Parks Superintendent Jake McEvoy explained that the venue is the culmination of a nearly three-year project to create a new, central place for residents and visitors to come together.
“This project began almost three years ago with the sole goal and purpose of creating a real event venue and community gathering space for Porter County,” he said. “We thought the best way to do that was to capitalize on this natural hill and the scenic backdrop of the prairie. We were really mindful about making sure we didn’t diminish the green space and went with a style of amphitheater that would fit the aesthetic and get people out into the park.”
McEvoy noted that local artists and organizers are already excited to perform at the amphitheater. Its first major concert, however, is set to feature a rising star on the national music scene. Hayden Coffman, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based country artist, is set to perform on August 30th’s Summer Nights at Sunset.
“I’m super excited to get things rolling,” McEvoy said. “It’s been a long time coming, and we’re excited to be here and start putting on some shows.”
Porter County Parks & Recreation Board President Bryan Waisanen spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony, highlighting the collaborative effort that made the amphitheater possible. He credited the park board, parks staff, the Porter County Parks Foundation, and local elected officials for their essential roles.
“Something like this doesn’t come overnight,” Waisanen said. “This is going to be great for education and recreation, not only for adults but for kids within and outside of Porter County. We want this county to be a draw for Northwest Indiana.”
Porter County Council member Red Stone echoed Waisanen’s sentiments and also praised the park board for its initiative to create a lasting amenity for future generations.
“I have four grandkids, and I’m thinking about how when I go, I want them to enjoy something like this,” he said. “We have to start planting seeds to make sure that things like this stay available for our youth, and that our young kids are out enjoying great parks like Sunset Hill Farm.”
Porter County Commissioner Barb Regnitz cut the ribbon and found particular praise for how the amphitheater’s design highlights the park’s key features.
“It’s just such a beautiful facility, and I don’t think any of us could imagine such an incredible setting,” she said. “The natural look of this amphitheater really accentuates the whole setting. I’m going to encourage the board to not stop at just this amphitheater but to continue to work on our other parks. Congratulations to everyone who’s been involved in this, it’s just so beautiful.”
For more information about Porter County Parks & Recreation and all of its upcoming events, visit portercountyparks.org.
