It is expected to take time for the city to review the Bolton & Menk study, plus review the recommendation regarding the site. The three sites the city has offered as possible locations for the POPS building are Memorial Park, City Center and the Sliding Hill Skate Park. All are city-owned properties.

As has been noted often in recent months, the POPS Committee mission is: “To build a multi-purpose outdoor performance facility to celebrate the arts and other community gatherings from music to theatre to dance to visual arts and much more.”

Gardner said the committee has always felt, regardless of the rankings in the Bolton & Menk site study, that it was the role of the city in making the location decision. “The city has been gracious in providing the land – we understand its role in picking the spot in the city. The recommendation by the Park Board is the next step and we are eager for the city to take the necessary steps to review these motions and recommendations.”

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The Bolton & Menk study had ranked Memorial Park as the number one site for POPS, with the Sliding Hill Skate Park and City Center ranking about the same. However, the study pointed out that all three sites could work for building the facility.

The POPS Committee leadership and a representative of Bolton & Menk will likely present its findings to the city council at the Nov. 20 meeting. It is unknown regarding the timeframe of the city council for action on the site selection.

The POPS project has raised nearly $600,000 in year one, working toward a $1 million in private funding by the end of 2025. “We will continue to be diligent in reaching out to businesses and individuals the rest of this year and 2024 to meet our goals,” Gardner said. “The people of New Prague have made it clear they want this facility to celebrate the arts and families. We are eager to raise the money to make this happen.”

It is expected that the facility will host summer concerts, dance recitals, theatre productions, church services, visual art events, private group outings and much more. For more information, contact Den Gardner, chair of POPS, at: 612/325-3981. Or email dengardner@gandgcomm.com. The POPS web site is: www.nppops.org.