Rotary President: New Amphitheater Will Happen, Just Not Quite Yet

Construction of North Canton's amphitheater is still a go, but the timeline for completion has been set back.

North Canton Rotary Club members had anticipated construction at Bitzer Park in spring of this year, but things are moving a little more slowly than they originally expected.

"It'll probably be later on down the road," said Brent Fatzinger, president of the North Canton Rotary Club. "I would say in the next two years we'd like to try to do something."

Fatzinger said the group is about halfway to its goal of $75,000.

One way the Rotary Club is raising money is the annual Rotary Chili Open, which requires people to brave the cold conditions for a day of golfing at the Fairways Golf Course. This year's event takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 16 and includes, for the second year in a row, the Viking Challenge (think of it as a "Tough Mudder" or "Warrior Dash").

Tickets are $20, which includes food, beverages and golf. Reverse raffle tickets are $50 each and will enter you in our $2,000 drawing.

This is the second year the annual event has raised money for the amphitheater. Fatzinger said the Rotary Club still is taking suggestions on the look and location of the structure. Members had talked about it being placed beside the North Canton YMCA at Bitzer Park, but that's not set in stone.

"There's been talk of doing this on a bigger scale and doing it at Price Park instead," he said. "But I'm hearing Bitzer seems to be the preference from the people I've talked to."

The amphitheater was one idea that came out of the city's Master Plan, or roadmap to future improvements in North Canton. Fatzinger said the city has yet to officially approve the structure, but he believes it is on board with the Rotary's plan.