DeKalb County Georgia. Source: Google Maps.

By Ellie Ritter, contributor 

With a unanimous vote, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has just approved amphitheater at Rainbow Park on Rainbow Drive, with up to a $500,000 budget for the preliminary design-build phase, according to a DeKalb County press release.

The amphitheater will be paid for District 3 park bond funds. This investment is just the beginning of a development plan for the 20 acres of land surrounding the park, the release said.

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The amphitheater will bring in more revenue to the area, which is located near Columbia Dr., according to District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson.

“This is an exciting time for District 3 as this will go a long way to attract good events to the district and bring added value to the properties around the area,” Johnson said.

According to the press release, the amphitheater will be near Interstates 20 and 285 and will hold approximately 1,000 guests, making it a prime location for concerts and performances.

Additionally, the amphitheater, which is outdoors, will complement the existing auditorium at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, located down the street at 3181 Rainbow Dr.

According to Marvin Billups, interim director of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, the goal is to improve residents’ quality of life by developing a community-friendly facility.

“We intend to involve the public in the development of this project from start to finish,” Billups said. “The overall goal is to create a path that will connect all these facilities around the Rainbow Park area to increase and encourage usability by citizens.”

According to the release, ASTRA Group Inc. will commence the design phase of the project, which is expected to be completed within 180 days.