On Tuesday, Watertown City Councilman Leonard G. Spaziani said he wanted more information about an amphitheater being proposed for Thompson Park.
Council members voted to apply for up to $7.7 million through the Defense Community Infrastructure Program. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense, this initiative âis designed to address deficiencies in community infrastructure, supportive of a military installation, in order to enhance military value, installation resilience, and military family quality of life,â according to the programâs website.
A city document outlining the projected expenses for the Thompson Park Performing Arts Center show the facility would cost $8,750,000 to construct. If Watertown obtained the grant from the federal government, it would need to contribute $1 million in soft costs (professional fees and consulting, project administration and construction inspection, equipment, administrative expenses and pre-construction services).
WATERTOWN â Festival-goers will again be able to enjoy Italian dishes, cannoli and other desserts, a bocce ball tournament and the Miss Italia contest as the 36th annual Bravo Italiano Festival is set to return this summer.
Last yearâs festival was lost to the COVID-19 pandemic but will return at the Watertown Municipal Arena from Aug. 27 to 29.
On Monday night, the City Council informally agreed to lower the fee for the use of the arena for the event from $3,500 to $2,500. The Italian American Civic Association puts on the festival.
In April, Julian Alteri, chairman of the festival, sent a letter to the city seeking a reduction in fees for this yearâs event, blaming âthe fiscal impact of the pandemic on our club and its inability to schedule and host events.â