Citizens Respond to Amphitheater Threat
[October 10, 2001] In the wake of the Metropolitan Council mediation impasse, over 300 Bloomington residents rallied in opposition to Burnsville's Black Dog Amphitheater project at a Bloomington Fire Station. At a standing-room-only meeting -- called by the Bloomington Amphitheater Coalition (BAC), an active group of citizens opposed to the amphitheater project -- discussion ranged across a number of issues and anticipated problems associated with the project.
Brian Carlson, President of BAC, introduced the audience to State representative Ann Lenczewski; State senator Dave Johnson; the Mayor of Bloomington, Gene Winstead; and a number of City Council members and candidates who later spoke with the group.
Urging their officials to persevere against the project, residents
strongly voiced their objections to the amphitheater, challenging the wisdom
of building such an intrusive facility so close to a populated area.
Pointing to a recent sound impact demonstration conducted by BAC and its
Burnsville counterpart, the Citizens' Alliance for Responsible Ecology
(CARE), many stressed their disappointment with Burnsville's disregard
for the quietude of their community. They were unanimous in calling
the project unacceptable. Numerous people in the audience expressed concern
over the possibility of lowered property values, increased freeway traffic,
vandalism and partying in Bloomington park lands across the river from
the proposed amphitheater site.
