Rotary International president-elect John Germ was in Murray Thursday for the ribbon-cutting of a new amphitheater pavilion funded by the organization’s local chapter.
The project has been in the works at the Murray Rotary Club for decades, according to Roger Reichmuth, who headed fundraising for the pavilion. The new addition to Murray's Central Park had a total cost north of $160,000, with the shell alone costing $70,000.
“When they get it completed, with the lights and everything in here, you can have nighttime activities," Germ said. "So there’s a lot of things like that that I think do build strong relationships between government, the public and Rotary."
Germ previously chaired Rotary International's efforts to eradicate polio across the world and has traveled to Nigeria and India as part of that effort. He takes office on June 1.
The new amphitheater will have access to power for performances, as well as bathrooms and dressing rooms. Murray Rotary's Jayne Crisp says Grand Rivers' Badgett Playhouse is coordinating a series of inaugural performances beginning next week. Booking is coordinated through the Murray Parks office.
