
By Sara Beth Williams–
Progress on the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater project, which was anticipated to be built at Rusch Community Park, has been slow going, according to the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band.
The marching band initially began raising money for the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater in July 2022 with an anticipated completion date of June 2024, but construction on the project has yet to begin.
Citrus Heights Community Marching Band manager and treasurer Sarah Hendricks said project plans have been “wet stamp” approved by an architect and engineer, and the band is now waiting on Sunrise Recreation and Park District to put out bids for the project.
“Our only frustration has been the length of time it has taken to get this project off of the ground with all of the hoops we’ve had to jump through,” Hendricks said, adding that the project had been “stalled” with the park district for some time.
Publicly available minutes from several Sunrise Recreation and Park District board meetings in 2024 show several community leaders provided public comment during meetings in support of the project in January, February, and March, including Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney, Bill Cook, Kody Tickner, Albert Fox, Hendricks, and Jayna Karpinski-Costa, who now serves as the city’s mayor. Charles Stone and councilmember Tim Schaefer also commented in support of the amphitheater, with Schaefer having been recorded as questioning “why there has not been a decision made” by the board.
At the monthly board meeting in March 2024, then Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost and Jack Frost spoke in support, and Cook and Hendricks returned again to voice their support for the project. At the same meeting, the district board unanimously approved a final location for the amphitheater.
In the March 20, 2024 staff report, several proposed uses were listed for the amphitheater. The staff report reads in part, “After meeting with Bill Cook, it has been determined that the Citrus Heights Marching Band would utilize the amphitheater four or five times throughout the year. These events would provide the community with opportunities to enjoy concerts hosted by the Citrus Heights Marching Band.”
Additionally, the staff report indicates that the city would use the amphitheater for Sunday Funday programming, and that the park district would utilize the amphitheater as an “additional amenity” that would allow SPRD to produce “a more robust concert series and additional special events.”
According to an email received in mid-January 2025 from Sunrise Recreation and Park District Administrator Kevin Huntzinger, the district’s legal team is developing an agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the use of the amphitheater. District staff are also currently working with Sacramento County staff to determine California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements for the proposed amphitheater.
An ad hoc committee was formed in May 2024, Hendricks confirmed, but it has only met two times since then, once in May 2024 and once in July 2024. The committee consists of Hendricks, Cook, and two Sunrise Recreation and Park District board members. Huntzinger also attended the meetings, Hendricks said.
“Our goal is to have the grand opening on June 25th, 2025, which is Kathy Cook’s birthday. We thought it was the perfect date to have the unveiling ceremony of the amphitheater to honor Kathy’s legacy,” Hendricks said.
Currently, the band has raised $100,000 for the project and needs $200,000 more, Hendricks said, adding that the band will be hosting another major fundraiser in April to help raise funds for the project.
Bill Cook originated the idea of building an amphitheater at Rusch Park in honor of his late wife Kathy Cook, who founded the marching band in 2005. She passed away in August of 2021.
The band’s original goal was to raise money and begin construction in 2023. However, then Interim District Administrator Wayne Edmundson said the park district board must first review and discuss feasibility study results before they can move on to construction.
Previously, Cook told The Sentinel he anticipates the project to include the construction of a large outdoor band shell with commemorative bricks purchased by community members and business donors, as well as the resurfacing and repaving of the parking lot off Rusch Drive in front of the Historic Rusch Home and the remodeling of the restroom building nearest to the parking lot.
To raise funds, the band is selling commemorative, personalized bricks that start at $100 each. Bricks can be purchased through the band’s webpage, chcmb.org/stage.
“This amphitheater will be a wonderful tribute to her, and the community will be able to enjoy it for generations to come,” Hendricks said.
Progress on the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater project, which was anticipated to be built at Rusch Community Park, has been slow going...
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