Two pavilions being built at Royal Palm Beach's Commons Park at the southeast end of the park next to the amphitheater.
Photo by Kristina Webb/ Palms West Journal.
Those looking for a venue for a large event can soon include Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on their list of options.
The village is adding two pavilions near the park’s amphitheater, a $2.25 million project officials say will open the site at 11600 Poinciana Blvd. to a new level of event.
Previously, large events would have to use the Sporting Center or spread their attendees among three or four smaller pavilions.
“We’ve had a number of requests in the past from companies. They wanted to have an outing at Commons Park, but they didn’t want to have it inside” the Sporting Center, says Lou Recchio, Royal Palm Beach’s director of parks and recreation. “We didn’t have anything large enough.”
The octagonal pavilions are the same size, 40 by 64 feet, with a capacity to hold more than 150 people, Recchio says.
One pavilion is being built north of the amphitheater, and the other to the south. The amphitheater sits at the southeast corner of Commons Park, at the head of the park’s 10-acre Great Lawn. Construction fencing was installed, and work began in January.
Having a pair of pavilions allows for greater flexibility in booking, Recchio says. “We can put on two different corporate functions at the same time. It can also be used for a family reunion.”
In addition to hosting large events, the new covered structures can serve as second or third stages for live music during village events, Recchio says, or one could be used as a bar.
The structures will be perfect for everything from Royal Palm Beach’s holiday festivals to its Friday night concerts and movies, Mayor Fred Pinto says.
“This is a place where you can go, sit down with your family and eat, and still be able to watch what’s happening on the amphitheater stage,” Pinto says.
Royal Palm Beach opened the 160-acre, $23 million Commons Park in 2012. It has 21 small pavilions available for rent, in addition to facilities within the Sporting Center.
Commons Park also has two playgrounds, a splash pad, volleyball courts, a driving range, a putting course and disc golf courses.
Recchio says village officials are always looking for new opportunities to serve residents.
“We don’t want to overdo it where people can’t enjoy the natural surroundings,” he says. Still, officials hear residents’ feedback and consider those ideas as they come in.
Recent work includes lighting all of the pathways and installing a second disc golf course on the north side.
A bike rental program that started last year has been popular, and the village is looking at expanding it, Recchio says.
Royal Palm Beach also plans to build an accessible playground to accommodate children of all abilities, including those in wheelchairs, village records show.
“We try the best we can to accommodate,” Recchio says. “We want to be the place to go if you want to enjoy the park or you want to enjoy entertainment.”
As part of the entertainment lineup, Royal Palm Beach has added an annual weekend of Shakespeare in the Park, which over four days last year drew 800 to 1,000 people, Recchio says.
Larger events and festivals have drawn 15,000 to 20,000 people, he says.
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