The Pamela Raymond Performance Pavilion
Pam Raymond is a philanthropist, community activist, and former proprietor of The Sayville Inn, a historic tavern that has played host to many prominent citizens in its 100 + year history, including Teddy Roosevelt and his cousin, John E. Roosevelt, who owned the nearby Meadowcroft Estate.
With her theatrical background and love of the arts, Pam's dream was to provide Sayville with a beautiful performance space. Her vision was to have a community gathering place that offered cultural enlightenment and celebrated the arts. This became her mission: to create The Common Ground.
Local architect Kevin Paul designed the structure, and contractor John Cox donated the time and materials needed to build the pavilion. Pam and Betty Whitehouse secured a grant from Suffolk County which covered half of the build cost, and Pam generously donated the rest.
Today, the pavilion serves as an anchor to many of The Common Ground’s events, including the Summer concert series (Wednesdays in the Park), Family Fridays, and Movies Under the Stars.
With the continued support of our sponsors and the community, the pavilion aims to provide years of enjoyment to people of all ages and backgrounds. And Pam’s wish to share her love of the arts with her community will continue to be fulfilled well into the future.