The amphitheater at Bryant Commons is complete and ready for concerts, festivals and other family activities, according to Vicki Davis, executive director of the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority.
 “The grassy seating area has been sodded and the electrical (requirements) for the control box and sound stage are in place. The amphitheater is done,” Davis said.
Davis said the HDDA and Liberty County Chamber of Commerce are having a private event March 8 to test the equipment at the amphitheater. A band will perform a private session to help engineers ensure the sound system is in proper working order.
Marcus Sack, engineer for P.C. Simonton and Associates and project manager for the amphitheater, concurred with Davis.
“We’ve tested the voltage, but we need to get somebody out there to play on it,” said Sack, who added that it’s better to check the sound system before a public event. “Construction went very well over all. We haven’t had any glitches to date.”
Davis said the first public event to take place at the new amphitheater will be the city’s classic Easter Egg Roll on March 23. The full test will come April 6 with the Darryl Worley Concert. Then on May 11, the Small World Festival will take place there. Davis said they plan to have a full schedule of events at Bryant Commons this year.
She said the Joint Management Board is responsible for management of Bryant Commons, which was named after late state Sen. Glenn Bryant, whose family donated the 150-acre site. The HDDA has a long-term lease to oversee activities and events, which includes a minimum of six annual cultural events. In addition to public events, the HDDA also will handle rental requests for private events.
The amphitheater area takes up half the park, Davis  said. There is a small pond that was part of the original Bryant homestead and now a 15-acre lake that is for water retention and run-off.
“There’s been a good bit of planning over the years,” Davis said. “Future plans include an entrance realignment, on-site parking, renovation of one of the original metal buildings as restrooms and a Veterans Memorial Walk. The (Hinesville Military Affairs Committee) has formed a separate committee for the memorial walk.”
Davis said a lot of things still are in the planning stages for upcoming events, like establishing a venue for off-site parking, shuttle services to the site and public safety. She noted any event with more than 50 people requires a special assembly permit from the city. The Liberty County Emergency Management Agency, Hinesville Fire Department and Hinesville Police Department have taken part in planning discussions. They also have been working with the Georgia Department of Transportation to get crossing guards for all special events, she said.