Pearland has completed Phase 1 of renovations on Independence Park, including a new amphitheater, a tunnel with a mural and a playground. The growth of the area supported the need for a renovated park, said Chris Orlea, director of the Pearland Parks and Recreation Department. "Pearland is a fast growing and dynamic community. Having the opportunity to use voter-approved bonds to update sites, meeting evolving needs, is always exciting," Orlea said in an email. The amphitheater has two dressing rooms for bands as well as room for sound and lighting equipment. A unique improvement is technology in the concrete that gives off different vibrations to help the vision-impaired orient themselves in the park. "A quality of life program should reflect the city that hosts it, and I am very proud of a robust capital program that is full of quality and strategy to serve Pearland for today, and many years to come," Orlea said in an email. The grand opening for the newly constructed park was on held on the Fourth of July.