History of the Kenley Amphitheater in Layton

THE Davis Arts Council partnered with Layton City, corporate sponsors, and private sponsors in 1995 to construct Layton’s Edward A. Kenley Centennial Amphitheater. It is located next to the Heritage Museum, in the center of Layton Commons Park. Today, it is an open-air entertainment arena that can seat up to 1,700 people.

The amphitheater was built to foster local community events. Indeed, its mission statement is: “To provide a quality venue sustained by excellence and community values. This is done by maintaining a safe, professional, and welcoming environment.”

The Layton City Council had approved a site in front of the Heritage Museum in Commons Park for an outdoor amphitheater back in 1994.

Dean Allen, Layton director of parks and recreation, said the parks department and related museum/arts councils had all approved the site because they favored the park setting and the acoustical properties in front of the museum.

A $50,000 donation from Julie Kenley, widow of Ed Kenley, a prominent Layton auto dealer and supporter of the arts, made the amphitheater project a reality. The City then made other funds available and had a total of $200,000 allocated for amphitheater development during the 1994-95 fiscal year.

"I really like this site," Mayor Jerry Stevenson said at its initial approval. "From an economic standpoint, it's much wiser," he said, explaining that necessary parking, rest rooms and electrical power are readily available in front of the museum at 403 North Wasatch Drive.

City Council members at the time said they also liked the site.

"It's a complement to the park and won't be intrusive," said Councilwoman Lyndia Graham. "If there's a natural gathering place, this is it."

Don Wilhelm, representing the Arts Council, said his group is also very excited about the site.

Allen said he studied other locations in the park, including the stream and a bowl-shaped area. But a landowner was not ready to sell the needed property, and there were potential problems with vandalism at such isolated locations.

Mayor Jerry Stevenson preferred the museum site because it is across from the police station.

Each summer the city had held outdoor concerts on the lawn and patio in front of the museum, and Allen said an amphitheater would help the museum itself with greater attendance and publicity.

Allen said in 1994, the City hauled fill dirt from northeast Layton and stored it on Golden Avenue to be used for a hill to create the amphitheater. He said the dirt would be hauled to the site, in front of the Heritage Museum on Wasatch Drive, to settle over the winter. Construction began the next spring.

Ethel Adams, a council member who doesn't want the city to use tax money to fund the amphitheater, said she is happy the project is staying within its budget.

"We still think it's a good site," Allen said. "We've tried to design a functional amphitheater ... good for sound, lights and stage and that will fit into the park and museum setting."

While the amphitheater did not totally obscure the front of the museum, it did block part of its view from the surrounding area.

"I think the amphitheater will bring more awareness of the museum to the community," Layton City Council member Stuart Adams said.

-After some 25 years of use, the Amphitheater has definitely proven its worth.

SOURCES: Deseret News Archives and Layton City Corporation.