SUNBURY — Jim Eister, Sunbury councilman, is optimistic the new Sunbury amphitheater would draw crowds and national recording artists after the complex is finished in August 2011.

“From what I hear, there will be some big name people coming here,” Eister said Wednesday.

“I don’t know much about the new music, but I understand people are working on getting in some big names.”

The ampitheather is one of the signature components of a $4.2 million riverbank stabilization project that also calls for the construction of a pier, marina and trail on the riverside of the city’s floodwall.

A $2.4 million pedestrial trail project funded by the Department of Transportation is being built on the street side of the flood wall.

Although, it is unlikely The Dave Matthews Band will perform at the amphitheater, the new facility is well-equipped to handle the crowds a big-name act would attract.

“You get a lot of people down here by the river,” Eister said. “All along the shoreline people can set up and listen to concerts.”

As of now, the amphitheater will be able to handle about 400 people in the stands, but the grass area along the theater and down the miles of shoreline would be plenty of room.

The structure for the amphitheater is about 20-feet below Front Street and will be set up to look directly at the stage, which will located just off the shoreline in a permanent structure in the river.

Not only will the stage be surrounded by the river, but in between the rows of lighted seating, grass will be planted to make the appearance and feel a bit nicer.

“That’s a place where you can throw down the blanket and sit and listen to the music,” Eister said.

“Plus with all the other grassy areas, I think this will be really good.”

The project got underway about a week ago , and is making significant progress, Sunbury inspector, Tom McBryan said.

Everything is on target and it all looks really good,” McBryan said. “These guys are hustling.”

The projected finish date of August 2011, Eister said he will be happy to see it complete.

“This has been in the making for the past eight years,” he said.

“So to see it all the way through now, is just fantastic.”

A few key dates for the amphitheater begin Oct. 4, when construction crews begin to let the dam down and start stabilizing the shoreline.

‘There will be two crews doing that work, so once that is ready, a lot more progress will be made,” Eister said.

Crew member Robert Hennigan, from HRI., was pleased with his company’s accomplishments.

“Everything is going pretty smoothly here,” he said. “This should be a real nice place.”

Eister was enthusiastic about other potential happenings at the theatre.

“This will be a great place to come and watch boat races, or just pull your boat up and see what’s going on or who is playing,” Eister said.

“I am proud of what is happening here,” he said. “Any day of the week it is nice down by the river here and we need to utilize this body of water.”

— E-mail comments to fscarcella@dailyitem.com.

Sunbury is exit 210 on i80.  An hour north of Harrisburg- 4 hours from NYC.