Greg Smith’s dream of opening what he calls “the ultimate outdoor live music venue” is one step closer to becoming a reality. Crews were plowing dirt Thursday morning and had already cleared a large portion of land where the amphitheater’s stage will sit.

According to owner Greg Smith, the Osage Creek Performing Arts Center will be open for rock come summer of 2011. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 2, and the first act has already been booked.

The new Osage Creek Performing Arts Center cleared its final legislative hurdle this week when the Benton County Planning commission approved their long term use plan at a meeting on Wednesday night.

A new, 16,000-seat concert amphitheater is in the works for Northwest Arkansas.