CARL HOFFMAN The band shell at Broadway Park in Long Branch will be dedicated May 23. LONG BRANCH — The city of Long Branch will inaugurate a new outdoor theatre at Broadway Park on Saturday, May 23.

The band shell is the first in an ambitious slate of enhancements to what will one day become a destination arts district. The new venue for live music and other performances is a welcome addition to a neighborhood that also features arts entities including the New Jersey Repertory Company and the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts (SICA).

Broadway Park is located behind the Brookdale Community College Higher Education Center at the corner of Broadway and Third Avenue. With plenty of free parking available in the adjacent municipal lot, it's situated a short walk from Ocean Boulevard in the heart of the downtown business district.

The centerpiece of the Broadway Park project, the open-air band shell is sponsored by the City of Long Branch Urban Enterprise Zone and will play host this summer to a series of Tuesday night band concerts, as well as a planned slate of ethnic heritage festivals celebrating the city's energy and diversity. Also on the boards is a monthly series of performing arts happenings sponsored by the Long Branch Arts Council.

The property for Broadway Park was purchased from a private owner by the city of Long Branch, utilizing UEZ funds as well as a Community Development Block Grant. According to Long Branch UEZ director Jacob Jones, the modular band-shell structure was purchased and installed for an approximate cost of $230,000 — a figure that includes cleanup of the property, foundation, electrical hookup and landscaping.

After the May 23 ribbon cutting by Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, a group of four poets — Long Branch natives Frank Valentino and Emmanuel Di- Pasquale, along with Laura McCullough of Brookdale CC and Red Bank Regional High School teacher Gretna Wilkerson — will perform spoken-word pieces that reflect upon such themes as the ever-evolving face of the city.

One of the area's favorite ambassadors of Jersey Shore-style rock and blues, Chuck Lambert and his band will inaugurate the new band shell and actors of the NJ Rep stock company will be on hand, performing a live, ten-minute "radio play."

According to artist, educator and Monmouth County Arts Council spokeswoman Robyn Ellenbogen, "It's our mission, with this new venue, to connect with the people of Long Branch in ways that go beyond simply hosting live music from traveling bands."

"We're looking to present events that speak to the different populations of our city, to work closely with our students in developing the next generation of arts events in Long Branch, and to connect with people in ways that are most important to their community."

A July concert series at Broadway Park will present free 7 p.m. performances by Valerie Adams and Dimension on July 7; Special Request on July 14; and Jody Joseph on July 21. Other events are due to be announced by the start of the summer season, and trees will be planted later in the season in anticipation of holidaythemed events at the end of 2009.

For more information on the Broadway Park project, call the Long Branch Arts Council at 732-229-3166.