OXNARD : New Amphitheater Ready for Festival

The first phase of the College Park Amphitheater in Oxnard was dedicated Monday, less than one week before the outdoor facility will be used for concerts at the California Strawberry Festival this weekend.

Built by the Ventura County Recreation Services for about $800,000, the turf-covered slopes can accommodate an audience of up to 1,700, said project manager Theresa Lubin.

Located beneath towering rows of eucalyptus trees, the amphitheater now lacks such basics as changing rooms, an orchestra pit and fixed seating. Those will come later at an additional cost of $2 million, Lubin said.

When completed, the amphitheater will have 2,200 permanent seats and festival seating for another 800 people.

But for the opening, 40,000 square feet of sod covers the amphitheater’s gentle slopes, which will be used for festival seating only.

“This is a long-needed addition to our recreation network,” said Pete Pedroff, director of the county’s General Services Agency.

The dedication was attended by county and Oxnard officials. Supervisor John K. Flynn emphasized the importance of the amphitheater’s location in Oxnard. “It’s a regional facility, but it’s also a great asset to our city,” Flynn said.