A new amphitheater is taking shape in Nisbet Park, and Loveland residents will have a chance to engage with the board overseeing that project when the Parks and Recreation Board meets Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 120 W. Loveland Ave.
The meeting comes as the city's biggest parks investment in years, a new Nisbet Park Amphitheater, rises along the Little Miami Scenic Trail in the heart of downtown. No formal agenda has been posted, but the board oversees Nisbet Park, trail amenities and other city recreation facilities during a year of heavy spending on green spaces.
Amphitheater construction underway
Crews demolished the old Nisbet Park amphitheater the week of May 11 and have been building its replacement since late April, according to the city's construction projects page. The new structure will face into the park, expanding capacity for concerts, festivals and community events. City staff secured $250,000 in grants and is pursuing additional funding. Completion is estimated for sometime in 2026, though no specific month has been announced.
The city posted a livestream of the construction on June 22 so residents can watch progress in real time.
The amphitheater is part of a broader Nisbet Park master plan that also includes a walking trail expansion and riverside swings.
Trail town momentum
The project fits a pattern of trail-adjacent investment that City Manager Dave Kennedy described in a February 2026 Rails to Trails Conservancy feature on the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
"We created a town square by the clock tower, put out these beautiful Adirondack chairs and kept expanding it and investing in amenities that support the people who are using the trail," Kennedy told the conservancy in January. "We're always thinking about how to complement it, and I don't think we'll ever stop."
The Little Miami Scenic Trail stretches more than 78 miles through southwestern Ohio, running from Springfield to Anderson Township. Loveland sits 9.5 miles north of Milford along the route. A 2024 monitoring report counted 1.79 million trail uses.
150th anniversary and time capsule
Loveland is celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2026, and the amphitheater site will house a new time capsule replacing the original 1976 capsule uncovered during anniversary festivities. Residents can drop off items no larger than 8½-by-11 inches at City Hall, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Oct. 30.
How to attend
The Aug. 19 meeting runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. No registration or advance sign-up is required. Council Chambers is at 120 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, OH 45140.
Upcoming community events
- Aug. 29: Movie in the Park — Ghostbusters at sunset, 11668 Rich Road. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
- Sept. 5: Loveland Art Festival, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Nisbet Park (new location), featuring nearly 70 artists, live music by Clark Jenkins and food trucks.
- Sept. 12: Mayor's Gala at Indie Hollow, 10369 Cones Road. Tickets $150. Benefits sesquicentennial legacy projects.
- Sept. 26: LIFE Empty Bowls fundraiser, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. $25 per ticket; seatings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
