Downtown Amphitheater & Urban Park

In conjunction with the Fremont Rotary Lodge at River Cliff Park, the Fremont Rotary commissioned Thomas Porter Architects to develop a concept for a park in downtown Fremont with the primary feature being an amphitheater and viewing lawn for 200.

Thomas Porter Architects partnered with EDGE Landscape Architects to pursue this project, and later contracted with MDA for MEP Engineering and SDS for Structural Engineering. While working with Fremont Rotary it was also critical to involve the City of Fremont in the preliminary planning for this project, the City’s goal was to be able to provide public space that is extremely versatile so that it can function as an amphitheater for 200 people, a farmer’s market with vendors and food trucks, and provide the function of parking as it does today for use during the work week.

TPA and EDGE developed a concept that provided strong axis along the existing alley running east to west connecting the amphitheater to the activity along Front Street, an events lawn, open park space with planting beds and conventional park amenities (benches, litter bins, bike racks, lighting), and off street parking.

After completing a concept and associated conceptual cost budget, Fremont Rotary successfully sold this idea to the Fremont Rotary voting membership to pledge $250,000 in funding to the City of Fremont for the project. The City of Fremont then engaged TPA to complete schematic design and construction documents for this project. Construction wrapped up in Spring of 2024 and the site is running a full schedule of events for its inaugural summer season.