‘EXCITING TIMES!’ ROCK, BY ROCK … ROTARY BARGE SEATING HALFWAY COMPLETE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Rotary is getting closer every day to rocking your musical world.

Construction on their new Rotary Rocks the Barge amphitheatre seating project and waterfront reconstruction — in conjunction with the Town of Gravenhurst — is halfway complete on the banks of Gull Lake Rotary Park as tons of slabs of granite are already inbedded in the hillside.

Five rows of stone seating — 21 metres long — are firmly in place in front of the waterfront stage.

And the bottom two rows of a second 30-metre section have begun taking shape in front of the swimming beach.

Landscaping is expected to round off the half-million dollar project by the end of the month, which began in early April.

A soft grand opening is planned for Saturday June 20, says Rotarian committee chair Dave Reid.

“Yes the plan is to have our grand opening kick-off on June 20th — a few speeches, but nothing too major.

Rotarian and Gordon Lightfoot sound-alike “Steve Rae is going to provide some music beforehand and then afterwards.

“Our plan is to serve cake out of our Rotary pavilion there.

“Exciting times!” he says of the club’s 85th anniversary project.

 IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN A WALK DOWN FOR A LOOK,

AS PER USUAL, MUSKOKA TODAY.COM DID SO FOR YOU TODAY.

Looking good so far – half the prime seating is pretty well in place in front of the Barge May 1. Photos Mark Clairmont
Nicely there will still be a small patch of the grassy knoll to drop a blanket on to watch at the south end.
Thankfully the town paid to re-inforce the shoreline as their contribution to the Rotary-driven project.
To the north a 30-metre section of seating can be seen coming together this week.
The popular Gull Lake Rotary Park beach will also have seating to watch waterfront events like rowing.
Taking a look toward the south you can see more than 50 metres of rock seating including original stairs.
Getting closer more of the original steps built by Second World War German PoWs can be seen.
The bottom row affords viewers an incredible front row seat on the lake metres from the water.
The slabs of ganite are perfects for sitting or placing a lawn chair on.
Workers have been hard at it for more than three weeks. Here park benches are being cleaned for return.

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