The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band began raising money for the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater in July 2022 and continues to fundraise toward the project’s completion. Drawing courtesy of Citrus Heights Community Marching Band 

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County staff continues to review the proposed Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater project to be built at Rusch Community Park and determine either its compliance or exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). After that is done, Sunrise Recreation and Parks District (SRPD) can then put the project out for bid.

Citrus Heights Community Marching Band members celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary this year are hopeful that the 100-percent donor-funded project to build a Rusch Park outdoor stage will finally break ground this year.

“I’m optimistic that Sacramento County will make a decision soon concerning the scope of their CEQA review,” said Sunrise Recreation and Parks District executive director Kevin Huntzinger.

In an earlier interview, Huntzinger said that the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District’s legal team had also developed an agreement outlining terms and conditions of the amphitheater’s likely use.

The California Environmental Quality Act requires state and local government agencies to inform decision-makers and the public about the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects as well as what steps are necessary to reduce those environmental impacts to the extent possible.

Once clear of that compliance hurdle by Sacramento County to proceed, the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater project can quickly be put out for bid.

Citrus Heights Community Marching Band Executive Director Bill Cook originated the idea of building an amphitheater at Rusch Park in honor of his late wife, Kathy Cook, who founded the marching band in 2005 to serve as entertainment for the annual Citrus Heights Red, White & Blue parade. She died in August 2021. 

The bell-shaped amphitheater, narrow in the back and wide in the front, will be built on the west end of Rusch Park. It will be near the Rusch home and garden between the two baseball fields, close to the bathrooms and Lion Park. The back of the facility is estimated to be 30 feet wide by 10 feet tall. The front of the facility is estimated to be 78 feet wide by 16 feet tall.  

Additional project work includes resurfacing and restriping the existing parking lot on the west end of Rusch Community Park. Sunrise Parks and Recreation District will operate and maintain the facility once construction is complete.

Cook said the project’s construction would be quick, between four to eight weeks, and he is in touch with multiple general and subcontractors eager to bid on the project.

“They’re ready to get started,” said Cook.

The marching band, which began raising money for the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater in July 2022, continues to fundraise toward the project’s completion.

“The Sunrise Recreation and Park District will be releasing the Request for Proposal (RFP) and conducting the bid process to ensure we meet our procurement requirements,” said Huntzinger. “We are required to post and advertise the bid in all ways that we would any other project to ensure all contractors have a fair process. Once bids are submitted and reviewed, the bid will be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder by our (Sunrise Recreation and Park District) Advisory Board of Directors.”

“The timeline from bid release to bid opening is a six-week process and then the bid is awarded at the SRPD Advisory Board meeting following the opening,” Huntzinger said.

The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band has raised $100,000 for the project and needs $200,000 more.

“This amphitheater will be a wonderful tribute to Kathy and the community will be able to enjoy it for generations to come,” said Cook.

Two walking paths will connect the existing sidewalks to each side of the amphitheater. The front of the stage and inner walls will also be lined with commemorative bricks that are priced at $100, which can be purchased through the band’s webpage at chcmb.org/stage.