A group of music lovers announced plans this week to build a privately funded plaza and amphitheater in downtown Amarillo.
The plaza will be named for beloved Amarillo singer-songwriter AJ Swope, who was tragically killed in a car accident five years ago. The group is hoping to secure land near the new multi-purpose event venue now under construction on Buchanan Street.
According to Wes Reeves, who is spearheading the project, the plaza will consist of a beautifully landscaped and terraced amphitheater, ringed by a Texas Panhandle Walk of Fame and a Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial.
The plaza is expected to be completed sometime next year, and it will be turned over to the city as a gift to the citizens of Amarillo. Reeves said he and his group are currently seeking donors to help make the project a reality.
Wes Reeves explained the project to HPPR: “Almost everyone who encountered AJ Swope felt like they’d made a new best friend. He brought out the best in everyone, and this is what we hope to achieve with this plaza. Amarillo really needs something that will draw people together, something with broad appeal that celebrates who we are and what we value. That’s the spirit that guides us as we design what we expect will be a beautiful and meaningful addition to downtown Amarillo.”
Hear an interview with Wes Reeves, live on High Plains Morning with Jenny Inzerillo:
