Mike Ingram Heritage Park, a Heritage District staple along Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, will undergo a major transformation starting this month, city leaders announced this morning.

Already home to the Maricopa Museum and Visitor Center and the storied California Zephyr railcar, the park will add an expanded performance stage complete with amphitheater-style seating for concerts and celebrations, a signature railroad-themed playground and new landscaping that ties the space into the broader Heritage District. 

The goal is to honor the city’s railroad roots and expand community gathering spaces, explained city leaders in today’s announcement.

The leaders say the upgrades are part of a larger vision for the district, which includes the imminent pedestrian bridge connecting the Heritage and South Bridge zones, and dining and nightlife at the freshly opened Duke’s Roadhouse. 

“This unique space will give our community more opportunities to gather, celebrate and connect — always with the railcar, the passing trains and Maricopa’s unforgettable skyline as the backdrop,” said Mayor Nancy Smith in a statement.

Construction is slated to start later this month. City officials hope to have things wrapped up by mid-December. A public groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Sept. 23 at 8 a.m. outside the Maricopa Museum and Visitor Center, 44200 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

InMaricopa has asked the city how many people the bandstand will seat, and for the total cost of construction. We’ll update this story once we get a response.