Carter Barron Amphitheatre closed for 2017 season for repairs

Date: March 1, 2017
Contact: Emily Linroth, 202-619-7156

Carter Barron Amphitheatre closed for 2017 season
Amphitheatre stage can’t support performance weight, needs repairs

WASHINGTON – As the result of a recent structural assessment, the National Park Service (NPS) has determined that the Carter Barron Amphitheatre stage has structural deficiencies and cannot safely support the weight of performances. This means there will not be concerts or other performances at the Carter Barron this summer.

“As soon as we learned about the stage, we halted scheduling any performances to protect performers, our staff and the public,” said acting Rock Creek Park Superintendent Frank Young. “We’re doing everything we can to fix the Carter Barron stage as quickly as possible.”

We know how much the community loves the Carter Barron, and we are working to get it back in action as soon as possible. We invite you to join the NPS for concerts at Fort Dupont Park’s Summer Theatre while we address this important safety issue.

The engineering report identified several options to fix the stage:

OPTION	TIME TO COMPLETE	COST	STAGE LIFESPAN
Temporary shoring	At least 1 year	Unknown - Must complete design before estimating cost	1 year (not a permanent solution)
Carbon fiber wrap	At least 5 years	$460,000 to $560,000	25 years
Rehabilitate	At least 5 years	$520,000 to $620,000	75-100 years

 

We investigated options and determined that a complete rehabilitation of the stage is the best choice. This option would ensure that the amphitheatre meets all current codes and is accessible for all, and the stage would last for 75 to 100 years. We are actively seeking funding for potential solutions.

We will continue to share information as we have it. Updates will be posted on our website at go.nps.gov/CarterBarron.