Nicholas Davila—who said he is a local actor and was taught at Leander High School—said while he was growing up there were not many activities to do in the area, and he thinks Cedar Park lacks cultural development.

Davila told this to Cedar Park City Council on Sept. 13, advocating for an amphitheater at the city’s future Lakeline Park, which will be located generally west of Bell Boulevard, north of Lakeline Boulevard and southwest of Little Elm Trail. Council reconsidered the idea of including a performance space at the park Nov. 15.

“I think it’s underestimated how much performance can bring together a community,” Davila said at the September meeting. “I think having an amphitheater for all sorts of performance and activities would be highly beneficial and much appreciated in the community.”

Davila’s testimony joined that of 21 others who submitted comment cards to City Council Sept. 13 in support of an amphitheater or cultural events space in Lakeline Park, which is set to be the city’s largest park at 189 acres.

Early proposals for the park included an amphitheater, which was removed in the refined concept plan after city staff heard concerns from residents relating to it, according to city documents.

At the September meeting City Council members expressed interest in adding the event space back into the plan, and the city held a meeting Oct. 22 for residents from neighborhoods around the park and performing arts groups to provide feedback, according to city documents. Over a dozen people attended and indicated preference for one of two proposed locations for the performance pavilion, Location A, according to the documents.

Council reconsidered the performance facility Nov. 15 and voted unanimously to add a multipurpose pavilion in Location A to master plans for Lakeline Park. Mayor Corbin Van Arsdale and Council Member Mike Guevara were absent.

“This is going to be a huge park; it’s going to have a lot of great things with it; and we want the citizens to be able to go ahead and appreciate it, and the concept I think is great,” Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Thomas said.