BACKGROUND and UPDATE: Construction of the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater is progressing with much of the work expected to be completed by Aug. 15, according to Sally Ortgies, West Des Moines’ parks and recreation director.

The city is accepting rentals of the facility for mid-September and into 2021, she said.

The amphitheater is located next to a large pond in the West Des Moines City Campus, which includes City Hall, a public library, two schools, a football stadium and West Des Moines schools’ Learning Resource Center.

Construction of the amphitheater began in fall 2019. It is expected to host community events such as concerts, movies, festivals and theatrical performances.

The stage can hold up to 50 musicians. About 2,000 people can sit in the lawn, which is on a hillside that overlooks the amphitheater and pond.

Construction of the facility was paid for with donations from Microsoft Corp. and the Richard and Linda Hurd family. Jamie Hurd, Richard and Linda’s daughter, died in 2009 at the age of 29 from a lung aneurysm. She had been in remission from stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma since 2006. Richard Hurd is a commercial real estate developer with offices in West Des Moines.

RELATED ARTICLE: West Des Moines council approves naming rights for amphitheater project

A Commercial Real Estate Weekly feature in which we update the status of projects underway in the Greater Des Moines area. Want to include an update about your project or suggest a project to include? Email: kathybolten@bpcdm.com.