It couldn’t be stopped
Founders Park Amphitheater “It couldn’t be stopped”
Founders Park’s TIB Amphitheater is located on 45 acres at 87000 Overseas Highway in Islamorada, FL. Long time Islamorada resident, musician, and community leader David Feder has been instrumental in the development, and later management, of the amphitheater.
Shortly after incorporating the five islands that made up the new city of Islamorada on December 31, 1997, David Feder and a small group wrote an article in a local paper asking residents what would they like the new city government to do first. The overwhelming suggestion was a large performance theater – an amphitheater.
Feder and his group put together some initial funding through the Tourist Development Council (TDC), local TIB bank, and some private donors. They hired an architect to design the amphitheater and then submitted the plans and budget to the new city council. The project was approved and construction began.
David was working in France and upon return, he had expected the construction to be at or near completion. Contrarily, the city said the design was flawed along with several other issues. They said it would be “impossible” to build the amphitheater as designed. Construction was halted and bulldozers were expected to reclaim the construction site within days.
David had a forensic review of all the city documents pertaining to the construction project. The new city council had made a number of mistakes and errors. He attended a council meeting, and after a long, and sometimes heated discussion, the council decided to let David and his group takeover and complete the construction.
David had lamented this potential failure to a couple of wealthy patrons who were also his guitar students. One wrote a blank check and told David, “don’t spend more than a million.”
He formed a non-profit organization, Islamorada Community Entertainment (ICE) company which was later awarded a 15- year contract to manage the operation of the amphitheater.
After hiring a new construction company, the amphitheater project was able to moved forward and construction was completed in October, 2016. The first concert was held in November and featured the New Sousa Band, conducted by Keith Brion, playing a patriotic tribute in the style of the original John Philip Sousa Band.
The amphitheater was designed so that the sunsets were all behind the stage. Musicians would never have the sun in their eyes. One end of the stage is rounded, providing great acoustics facing the stage, and can be used for smaller performances with on stage seating for 100 chairs.
Note the Bay Jam t-shirt. David Feder is a huge supporter.
The flyover canvas has the same material as the Denver Airport and has held up for over ten years, surviving Hurricane Irma winds. ICE subsidizes most events to keep the prices within reach of everyone. In addition to the many free and low-cost events, ICE also provides arts workshops with professional artists, as a venue for young artists to present their talents to the community.
Local teacher Judy Justice approached David to help raise money because they lost funds for school art and music teachers. This led to an event called Bay Jam. It was very successful and raised a lot of money that went directly to music scholarships, instruments, and general music support. Feder and ICE took over running the concert after the first two years and later relocated to the amphitheater. Bay Jam is currently in its 31st year, raising millions for music and art.
The Founders Park Amphitheater, that was almost never built, has become the cultural center for the community, hosting events of all kinds. ICE brings entertainment and cultural events to Upper Keys residents and provides art, music, dance scholarships, and grants to local students and in-school programs. The all-volunteer organization has managed all performances including the annual Bay Jam.
ICE formed a 501(c)(3) and David Feder has been intricately involved with its operation. David says it was a ton of work but great for the community.
A mini round stage with great acoustics built in to the amphiteater – seats a hundred chairs on stage.
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