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NORTH OGDEN — Some homeowners in North Ogden are trying to stop a project already underway in their neighborhood.
They are concerned about noise and traffic they fear will come from a large, newly rebuilt amphitheater at Barker Park, 2375 N. Fruitland Drive.
The amphitheater is being expanded "to better accommodate community performances and to provide a venue for outside talent," according to the city's website.
Construction on the first phase of the project is underway and expected to be complete by May. It will not include a sound system — that will come with phase two. Still, some residents say the project could change the whole feel of the neighborhood.
"It's not what was promised. It's not what we purchased our lot for," said homeowner Kim Christensen, whose family built their home in North Ogden more than 15 years ago. "It is much larger than anything we ever thought they would put in here."
Neighbor Sean Casey shares some of the same concerns.
"Here we are, building an amphitheater that's larger than the Kinley in Layton, or Sandy's amphitheater, or Draper's amphitheater," he said.
Christensen and Casey are part of a group banding together against the city project. The group recently created the website noamph.com, and has gathered 200 signatures on a petition to the city.
Both homeowners say they feel they were given little to no notice of the project before contracts were signed.
However, city leaders worked to notify the public of the project that was first brought to them by a park committee in 2016, according to city administrator John Call.
"I know Mayor Taylor has tried really hard to get the word out about this," he said. "The committee was recommending that the amphitheater be upgraded, and the first thing done as part of the park, to draw interest and people to the park."
Plans call for directional speakers, aimed inside the venue, to help reduce noise.
"It focuses the sound down, as opposed to a traditional speaker you might have in your house that balloons it out," Call said.
Christensen also says the theater will cost taxpayer dollars to keep it running.
"We're realizing that this is not just impacting us. This is about our entire community," she said.
Funds to run the amphitheater will come from the parks and recreation budget, as part of the general fund, Call said.
He also said this amphitheater may end up larger square footage-wise than many others in Utah, but seating will range from 800 to 2,000 maximum.
For more on the expansion plans, visit www.northogdencity.com/government/arts-amphitheater-committee.
