NEW ULM– Construction and assembly of the shade structure for the German Park amphitheater has begun after a more-than-two-month delay.

The shade structure equipment was brought to German Park in mid-May, but installation was held off until Monday.

Park and Recreation Director Tom Schmitz said the delay on installation was related to connecting the amphitheater’s concrete base and the steel columns of the shade structure. Because the amphitheater and shade structure were designed in separate phases, additional engineering was needed to determine how to connect the shade structure to the concrete base of the amphitheater.

With the additional engineering now complete, installation of the shade structure can begin. Schmitz estimated the installation to be complete by the end of this week or next week.

“Once the uprights are in place, assembly should be rather quick,” he said.

Staff photos by Clay Schuldt Workers prepare the base for the amphitheater shade structure. The shade structure equipment was delivered in German Park two months ago, but it is expected to go up during the next week.

The amphitheater project was planned in phases. The first phase was construction of the seating on the hillside with the shade structure as the second phase. The third phase is still on the drawing board and is not yet approved by the city. The proposed third phase would incllude improvements to the stage and bandshell.

Parks and Recreation is continuing to accept donations to offset the cost of the first and second phases, as well as plan for phase three.

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