A view of the renovated amphitheater at Lucerne Park. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Renovations include new lighting. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW – The first show at the revamped Lucerne Amphitheater in Warsaw will be July 17.

The featured artist will be Lightnin’ Rod & the Thunderbolts, a blues band, and the show is part of the park department’s summer concert series, which is normally held at Central Park Plaza.

Sheila Wieringa, the parks department recreation director, told the Board of Works and Safety Friday that they chose to move the show to Lucerne as a way to debut the new amphitheater, which underwent a $211,000 transformation.

“We thought we’d have one at Lucerne at the new amphitheater and see how the acoustics are and invite some of the boaters from Pike Lake over,” said Wieringa.

The event space includes new terraced seating. Five ornamental LED lights were installed. These came from Municipal Park when Buffalo Street was constructed and the lights were not needed.

All other shows that are part of the summer concert series will be at the Central Park Plaza, Wieringa said.

The first show of the series will be on May 22 and will feature Zach Day as Magnolia Soul. The entertainment will be in conjunction with the Lakes Festival, which is offsetting some of the cost for the show.

Concerts usually run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., but since the Lakes Fest continues that night until 10 p.m., Wieringa said the concert will run from 7 to 10 p.m.

Another view of the amphitheater. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

The following is a list of shows lined up for the summer concert series so far:

May 22 – Magnolia Soul

May 29 – Whistle Pigs

June 5 – Matt Gabriel

June 12 – To Be Determined

 June 26 – To Be Determined

July 17 – Lightnin’ Rod & The Thunderbolts (Lucerne Park Amphitheater)

Aug. 7 – The BelAirs

Aug. 14 – Quentin Flagg

Aug. 21 – The Sound

Dates for other major events include Classic rock show, June 19; Blues concert July 10; Country concert July 24; Family festival, July 31.

In other matters, the board approved a request by the street department to purchase a new paving machine for about $190,000. The new machine is wider than traditional pavers and will allow the city to pave two lanes of travel at the same time.

The board also approved plans to replace the mayor’s vehicle with another used vehicle. That’s a move that is made every four years. The old vehicle will be transferred to another department in the city. The cost of the car is expected to be about $27,000.