NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
28 July 2003

UPGRADED LEVITT PERFORMING ARTS PAVILION DEDICATED

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today conducted dedication services for the newly-restored and upgraded Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion in Reservoir Park. First built in the 1940’s, the popular bandshell has undergone $250,000 in upgrades thanks to a grant from noted philanthropist Mortimer Levitt of New York City, and is now in the midst of the inaugural season of the Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion Summer Concert Series, which features free live entertainment every Wednesday through Saturday evening through September.

The Mayor said the historic bandshell and surrounding park area have undergone various renovations over the past 12 years as part of the Mayor’s Parks Improvement Program. The new bandshell work has included:

• Construction of new access ramps for equipment and the physically challenged, along with accessible walkways and seating areas.
• The old benches and asphalted seating area were removed and replaced with a sloping lawn area
• New underground irrigation systems, electrical power utilities, dressing rooms, systems, sound and lighting equipment and staging trusses, ventilation and exhaust fans, and additional handicapped parking areas were installed
• Structural beams in the bandshell were laminated and reinforced with steel plates, and the roof was repaired
• Concrete walkways and other concrete areas were repaired and reinforced, and a new concrete pad was installed for sound and lighting controls, with newly-installed underground electrical and other utility lines
• The entire structure was repainted inside and out, and other cosmetic repairs were performed

“This has been a comprehensive effort to restore one of Harrisburg’s most historic recreational facilities,” said the Mayor. “Thanks to the generosity of Mortimer Levitt, Harrisburg residents and visitors now have one of the finest entertainment facilities, as well as one of the most extensive free performing arts series ever conducted in the midstate. Our appreciation is extended to Mr. Levitt, and to all those individuals, organizations and businesses that have also contributed to make this possible.”

Reed said work on the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts was performed by: Brinjac Engineering—design work; ITC, Inc.—electrical; ECI, Inc.—ramp and truss installation; Davis Landscaping & Rogele Inc.—grading, seeding and irrigation installation; BKEC—plumbing; Randy Thomas Event Management, Inc.—sound and lighting system design; and project management was provided by Tina Manoogian-King, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Russell Corkle, Director of the Bureau of Parks Maintenance.

Additional support and sponsorship have been provided the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Levitt Foundation of Harrisburg and the Friends of Levitt Pavilion Committee, Citizens Bank, Commerce Bank, Nace Entertainment, Gospel In The City, Downtown Sound, Light Tech, WSOX, Gamut Theater, Volunteer Center, PA Wine Association, Central Pennsylvania College, Fathom Design Group, Urban Connection, Houck Printing, Harrisburg Broadcast Network, PNC Bank, Carpenters Local #287, The Disney Store, Penn National insurance, LeTort Property Management, BA Sound and Kent Food Service.

The Mayor noted that the inaugural season of the Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion Summer Concerts continues all summer long, with free children’s entertainment every Wednesday night, and concerts for all age groups every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. All shows begin at 7 p.m. and are free to the public. For a complete schedule of events, or to learn more about becoming a supporter of the Levitt Series, please contact the Mortimer Levitt Foundation, P.O. Box 5435, Harrisburg, PA 17110, by telephone at 717.233.3608, or via the internet at levittpavilion@cityofhbg.com.

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