Brevard Commission Greenlights $1.23 Million Grant for Amphitheatre at Veterans Memorial Park on Merritt Island

total cost of project will be about $8 million

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County Commissioners this week approved by a 4-0 vote a $1.23 million grant for the Amphitheatre at Veterans Memorial Park on Merritt Island.

The grant will be provided by the 5% tourism tax, and the total cost will be about $8 million.

The amphitheatre will be built on the grounds of, and adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Park, and will include 1,700-square-feet of concession and restroom facilities.

The amphitheatre was conceived through a partnership in the late 2000s when the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department received an $800,000 grant from the State of Florida Communities Trust for Veterans Memorial Park Improvements, and the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency contributed $400,000 towards the expansion.

Most recently, MIRA was successful in obtaining a $1.3 million grant from the Brevard County Tourist Development Council, matched by a $1 million investment from MIRA to complete the amphitheatre project.

Since 2017, MIRA has committed more than $4.68 million dollars in funding for the enhancement opportunities and amphitheatre infrastructure. These enhancements are currently in the final design stages, then permitting review, bidding, and construction.

According economic impact study conducted by MIRA, the new facility is projected to generate more than 11,500 room nights and account for more than $6.9 of revenue flowing into Brevard County hotels and restaurants.

A scheduled completion date is early-mid 2025, and some of the amenity of the new facility includes:

■ Acoustically engineered with an estimated tiered lawn seating capacity of 2,350 and over 5,000 including adjacent park areas

■ Amphitheatre performance stage, green room, vendor docking and storage facilities, electrical infrastructure and stage lighting and digital performance level sound production

■ Concession facilities and picnic seating, parking, walkways and restrooms

■ A well-designed park makes the venue perfect for spectators and vendors. The park is designed to handle inclement weather through a 24-acre master planned onsite stormwater lake

■ Handicapped accessible parking

■ Landscaping, irrigation and sight utilities (power, water, sewer, data/communications)

The park and its amenities, including the amphitheatre, will be operated by Brevard County Parks and Recreation. This capital project is supported by the Brevard County Board of Commissioners and the Space Coast Office of Tourism.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Features Dedicated Army of Volunteers

The army of Brevard Veterans Memorial Center volunteers has grown to almost 100 individuals who work at the museum, library, store, vet support activities and management and maintenance of the Center and the adjoining 82-acre Veterans Memorial Park.

In 1979, a small group of World War II veterans met to pay the final respects to a fellow soldier who would otherwise have been buried alone in a pauper’s funeral.

They saw the need for an organization that would both help and honor individuals who had served their country in the military.

From that meeting grew Veterans Memorial Park and the Veterans Memorial Center, which included a museum covering United States military history.

Since 1990, the Merritt Island complex has also included a Disabled American Veterans office to provide vets and their families with free government assistance with benefits and services earned through military service.

Thanks to funds from the State of Florida, the Veterans Memorial Center in 2016 opened an expanded facility to better serve veterans.

After the expansion, the number of volunteers has grown to almost 100 individuals who work at the museum, library, store, vet support activities and management and maintenance of the Center and the adjoining 82-acre Veterans Memorial Park.

The oldest is an 88-year-old veteran of the Korean War, while the youngest is a 17-year-old high school junior who volunteers on weekends. Since its inception, admission to the Veterans Memorial Center has been free, thanks to the volunteers who help a staff of only two part-time employees.

“With an average of nearly 2,000 visitors per month, our volunteers make sure individuals, student groups or senior center guests all get the most out of their time in the museum and library,” said museum collections manager and Navy veteran Becky Zingarelli.

The DAV Chapter 123, located at the Memorial Center, works five days a week assisting veterans in need. The group developed a comprehensive VA benefit and information booklet that provides veterans and families with information on their entitled benefits.

Since 1995, the Veterans Memorial Center has supported an annual Stand Down to help homeless and struggling vets. The Memorial Center is also the meeting place for several local veterans’ organizations.

They are not charged a fee for facility use so they can funnel those funds for veterans and other community support service.

Each year, the Memorial Center awards scholarships to college-bound or continuing college students in Brevard. When the core of volunteers needs help with bigger events, the community gladly steps in.

“Our volunteers do most of the upkeep and maintenance, but we seek other volunteers to help with big clean-up projects,” said Brevard Veterans Council chairman Donn Weaver, Army veteran, Gold Star father and vice president at the Veterans Memorial Center.

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