Oak Ridge looking to renovate stage pavilion
Oak Ridge is looking to renovate its stage pavilion in A.K. Bissell Park, known affectionately by locals as “the Pringle” due to its shape.
The City Council unanimously voted at its March 19 meeting to spend $26,000 to have architecture firm Clark-Nexen look at the site and come up with a design.
The stage is the site of various events including the ORNL Federal Credit Union Summer Sessions concerts. A staff memo in the agenda for that meeting and the council’s resolution cited the wearing with time of the fabric shade structure over the stage, first installed in 1993.
“Over the years, it has been pressure washed and repaired, but it is far beyond its engineered functional life,” the memo stated.
Other issues staff listed included siding and roofing material.
The council also cited a desire for the renovated pavilion to match the Convention Center, which the same contractor designed. Workers are currently building the Convention Center next door to the city’s Recreation Center.
However, it’s unlikely to look too different from its current form.
“We’d like to kind of keep it similar, if possible,” said Seth Rodgers, Oak Ridge special projects coordinator.
Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dodson made the motion for the contract with Clark-Nexen, and council member Ellen Smith seconded.
“Performers in the pavilion would be happy to have new cover over them,” Smith said.