Bethel Woods Project Could Break Ground in Months

The first phase will include a 4,000-seat covered pavilion, a 40,000-sf interpretive center and lobby, three permanent open-air farm market structures (4,000 sf each), parking and infrastructure. Foundation officials say they hope the first phase will be completed by July 2006.

Plans for a 650-seat community theater are included in the next construction phase, according to Gerry Foundation officials. The foundation also received approval to include an inn and conference center and a school as part of Phase Two. The inn and conference center and school are not included in the overall $46-million project cost.

Cable television pioneer Alan Gerry purchased the 37.4-acre location of the original festival in 1996. Funding for the project comes from the Gerry Foundation, with more than $15 million in government support from federal and state government sources.

Gerry Foundation executive director Jonathan Drapkin adds, "The magic that was created at the Woodstock concert remains a very special part of our project. After considering comments from agencies and the public, we redesigned the project core to include aspects of the original components in 40,000 sf of building construction."

Bethel Woods is being designed by the Westlake Reed Leskosky of Cleveland. The architectural and engineering firm has extensive experience in cultural facilities, including two of the three largest performing arts centers in the US, Gerry Foundation officials note. Architect Peter van Dijk of Westlake Reed Leskosky designed the Blossom Music Center, home of the Cleveland Orchestra.Architect Paul Westlake of the firm called the project an exciting opportunity. "This is an incredible chance to balance the history of music at the site with a world-class performing arts center that can feature classical music as well as pop and rock. The project is an unprecedented cultural offering to a community," he notes.