NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
6 March 2002

RESERVOIR PARK BANDSHELL UPGRADES, PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM SET

Harrisburg, PA — Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that New York City philanthropist Mortimer Levitt has committed $750,000 to be used for upgrading the historic bandshell in Reservoir Park and for conducting extensive performing arts presentations from its stage over the next five years.

Reed said Levitt has already issued the city $250,000, to be used exclusively for improving the bandshell, with such upgrades as electrical, sound, lighting and dressing room additions. The asphalt area and park benches in front of the bandshell are to be removed, with natural grass installed and an underground sprinkler system to help permanently maintain it. Work will be done this year, the Mayor reported.

Levitt will provide the city with $100,000 per year, for a period of five consecutive years starting in Year 2003, to help sponsor 10 to 12 weeks of free performances, to be conducted 4 to 5 nights every week from June through August. The bandshell will be renamed the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts.

An executive director to conduct additional fundraising and to oversee activities funded under the grant will be hired. An agreement signed between the city and Levitt requires that a group known as the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion Committee be formed, comprised of 15 to 20 persons, for the purpose of raising an additional $100,000 each year to match the grant, with two fundraising events per year to help reach the goal.

Reed noted the bandshell is already used extensively throughout the year for various events and that the Levitt contributions “will take the site to an entirely new level of presenting the performing arts to all citizens.”

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