The Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings Band performs at 20th annual DC Blues Fest at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre. (Photo by takomabibelot)

Summertime performances at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park, a summer tradition that stretches back more than six decades, is being put on hold this year—and likely for at least five years to come.

“[The stage] was built in 1950, and it’s had a lot of great use over the years,” says National Park Service spokesperson Emily Linroth, noting performers like Smokey Robinson and Bruce Springsteen. “When you look at how the structure was designed, it was well-designed for that time. But wear and tear over the years has worn it down.”

A 2014 report noted some cracks and rusting, but didn’t involve a structural load analysis. After the results of a structural assessment were delivered in February, though, it became clear to officials that performances were out of the question in its current condition. Engineers concluded that the weight of the stage itself—much less with the addition of amplifiers, instruments, and performers—is already stressing its supports above the legal code.

NPS is weighing three options to make the necessary fixes. A short-term solution, at an unknown cost, would involve installing temporary supports. Officials say it would extend the stage’s life for just a year, and take about that long to complete. A medium-term solution would involve wrapping the stage in carbon fiber, and would give it about 25 more years, at a cost of between $460,000 to $560,000. The third option is to just tear the whole thing down and start anew, at a cost of between $520,000 to $620,000, with a new lifespan of 75-100 years. Both of the latter two fixes would involve a closure of at least five years, according to NPS.

Linroth says they’re strongly leaning toward the third option since it would likely take about the same amount of time to complete and not significantly more money—which still remains to be found for any of the fixes. Part of the reason for the lengthy closure period is that for any type of construction, the Park Service has to go through time-consuming design, environmental, and compliance reviews.

The annual concerts at both Carter Barron and Fort Dupont have seen a few rocky years, with the cancellation of the Washington Post’s long-running series, anabbreviated schedule in 2014, and fewer big stars. Still, the 4,200-seat Carter Barron Amphitheatre played host to eight shows in 2015 and 12 last year (it was also the National Park Service centennial).

Linroth says they’re putting long-time performers in touch with the staff at Fort Dupont with the goal of increasing the number of shows there. “We’re hoping this will help us increase or at least keep the same number of performances overall.”