In 1996, South Mountain L.C. donated the unfinished project to Draper City. But in the 11 years since, the lot has been sparsely used.

A basketball court is drawn on the asphalt, but there is no hoop. Seventeen rows of concrete stadium seating and handrails lead up the hillside, but with nothing to see but a few new homes and a sprawling Salt Lake Valley. Weeds now push through the cracks while dirt and slush litter the lot.

Tonight Draper's City Council will examine options to change all that. But before it signs off on a final product, the project would have to go through the typical site plan, zoning and engineering steps of any development.

Terri Purles, amphitheater fundraising committee chairwoman, said she is looking at three options - with price tags ranging from a $1 million to $4 million - to resurrect the venue .

The cheapest version would bring in a covered stage and restrooms, while the priciest would convert the amphitheater into an indoor/outdoor facility, fit for staging larger productions including plays and concerts before 1,500 spectators.

"There will be something built, I'm not worried about that at all," Purles said. "It's going to happen. . . . It's just a question of how much we can afford."

Michael Sears, Draper's finance director, said there is about $1 million available right now for an outdoor facility during warmer months. Of that $1 million, $500,000 would come from lease-revenue bonds, $250,000 from the general fund and $250,000 in donations from Purles' committee, Magic on the Mountain.

Purles said they have raised $165,000 so far - ranging from pocket change tapped at children's lemonade stands to an anonymous $25,000 donation. She said that money would go toward stage lights and sound or a park and playground area.

The main issue, she said, is ongoing upkeep costs. But no matter the price, Purles said the amphitheater can help usher in the arts and mesh the "lower Draper" community with South Mountain.

"The arts are such an important part of a growing and developing community," Purles said. "And the amphitheater is a great way to bring the community together."

sgehrke@sltrib.com