Having been given three options for playground equipment at Beyer Park at the March meeting, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board selected a playground that could appeal to a wider age range of children.
Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer told the Board he received an email from the playground suppliers and at the end of the month, there will be a 6% increase so the Board selecting a playground now will help avoid the increase in cost. He said that amounts to about a $3,000 increase and was happening “across the board” at all the playground facilities because of material costs and being able to get supplies.
Jill Beehler, Board member, said she provided the three options to her grandchildren to look over and they liked Option 1, though she liked Option 3.
According to renderings of the options, Option 1 has a unity swing with basket seat, freenotes tuned drums, freenotes manta ray, spinami and a slide and climbers. Option 2 has a curved wall, hoop climber, stalagmite, rockblocks tunnel, unity rocker and a curved balance beam. Option 3 has a rock climber, spiral slither slide, glide slide, transfer station, horizontal loop ladder with access ladder, and more.
Board Vice President Larry Ladd said each of the options has something unique to offer, but his favorite was Option 3. “I know that seems to be a little more expensive,” he said, but it gives more options for the kids for a wider age range of kids.
Board President Steve Haines and members Noemi Ponce and Michelle Boxell agreed they liked Option 3.
Ladd asked Beehler if her grandchildren pointed out specific reasons why they liked Option 1. She said they didn’t say, but they like the climbing and swinging as opposed to slides.
Plummer said they have a $50,000 budgeted for the Beyer Park project, and Option 1 was a little over budget. He agreed that Option 3 “probably gives us the most bang for our buck” and has something for a wider age range of kids.
Beehler made a motion to buy Option 3, and Ponce seconded it. It was unanimously approved.
“Alright, I’ll get it ordered,” Plummer said.
Ladd asked what the timeframe for the playground was. Plummer replied playground equipment company hasn’t said yet, but it usually takes two to three months to get it.
“At about the time we finish up Ker Park, we might be able to start that,” Plummer said.
The Board next talked about the five-year master plan. Plummer said on Monday he received the final public survey the Parks Department wants to put out, as well as the QR Code scanning capability. Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa has been busy getting the information and survey out, he said. There will be 6,000 inserts in the newspaper Saturday, the survey will be all over social media and the QR Code will be available at all city buildings that people can scan with their phones. Hard copies will be available at the Parks office.
“We’d just like to get the greatest response from the community. The survey will be instrumental in our five-year master plan process. We need to know what the community likes and what they want in our park system. And, on the same token, we’d like to know what we could do better as a park system,” Plummer said, encouraging everyone to take the survey.
Ponce asked if the survey was available in Spanish. Plummer said it wasn’t, but that was something they could do.
“That would be amazing,” Ponce said, “just so we have more of the community involvement as possible.”
Plummer said he would work on that.
The survey will run until the end of May.
Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner reported water was turned on for all outdoor park facilities, including bathrooms drinking fountains, irrigation systems and fountains.
The campgrounds are open, the piers are out and the drinking fountain was installed at Ker Park. The fountain was donated by Indiana American Water Company.
The big playground equipment was laid out at Ker Park, but was delayed due to Tuesday’s snow. Holes were originally scheduled to be dug Tuesday or Wednesday.
Picnic tables were spread out to all the parks, and he said grade work and seeding was done at Hire Park. “So hopefully, we’ll get some grass growing out there,” Gardner said.
Wieringa said the recreation calendar has been finalized for 2021. This year, like 2020 because of the pandemic, it’s digital, with a few hard copies available at the Park office.
This summer, she said they have plans to bring people back into the Parks buildings. The only three events they will not have this year are the three “big” concerts – rock, country and blues. They also will skip the Touch-A-Truck activity.
In other matters, Plummer said, regarding the NIPSCO pole-replacement project coming down Ind. 15 and through Central Park, the guide wires were completed in Bixler Park but NIPSCO had to remove five trees for the power line clearance. NIPSCO will replace the trees with crab apples, which was the trees chosen by the Parks Department.
Plummer said the crab apples will flower and be shorter.
NIPSCO has delayed its work in the park due to this week’s vaccination clinic at Center Lake Pavilion. The second round of vaccinations is May 11-15, and NIPSCO will return after that to complete the project through the park, Plummer said. It’s expected to be completed by June.
On the Buffalo Street plaza, Plummer said work is continuing and hopefully it will be completed by month’s end or early May. On the 29th, the interactive fountain will start up with Park employees given a tutorial. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be in early June.
Haines said the walkway by the plaza was really nice and should be a draw for people.
Ladd asked Plummer if he’s seen an uptick in building and table rentals from last year.
“We have,” Plummer responded. “Heather (Frazier) said the phones are just nonstop. People are renting, for sure.”
Haines said, “People are anxious to get out and do stuff.”
