An amphitheater planned at West Des Moines’ civic campus will be called the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater. Architect’s rendering by Confluence architectural firm.

A $2.4 million amphitheater planned for West Des Moines will be called the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater, the City Council decided this week when it approved an agreement for naming rights of the structure.

Developer Richard Hurd is providing in-kind funding of $850,000 for the construction of the amphitheater, which will be located next to a pond in the city complex at 4200 Mills Civic Parkway.

The City Council, in recognizing the donation, allowed the Hurd family naming rights of the facility. Jamie Hurd, Richard and Linda Hurd’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.

The amphitheater will include lawn seating for musical performances and other entertainment and community events. 

In addition to Hurd’s in-kind donation of labor and materials, Microsoft agreed in 2017 to donate $868,000 in surplus funds from its Alluvion Data Center to assist with construction of the amphitheater. The remaining 30% of project costs will be covered by West Des Moines.

“It’s exciting to see the funding come together for us to build a first-class community event and entertainment venue for our residents,” City Manager Tom Hadden said in a prepared statement. “The Hurd family told us that Jamie loved music and she loved West Des Moines, often taking walks around the pond. We’re grateful that Richard worked with us to make this happen.”

Construction of the amphitheater is scheduled to begin Sept. 23 and be completed within a year.