Firemen's Building Renovations Completed
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
New siding, an addition, new flooring and kitchen facilities, new walls and doors and bathroom remodeling have transformed the Warsaw Parks Department's Firemen's Building. The park board held its November meeting there Tuesday, hearing requests from an American Cancer Society representative and members of a traveling football league.
Kristen Everett asked that Central Park and the facilities there be donated to the society during the annual Relay for Life. She said the 24-hour event raises money for local cancer programs and recognizes those who have recovered from the disease. The request includes use of stages, parking areas, Center Lake, the pavilion, covered picnic shelters, the plaza, restroom facilities and electrical hook-ups.
"In return, the Warsaw Parks Department will be recognized as a $5,000 sponsor and be included on all printed materials and advertisements," the community development director said.
The event has been held at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in the past. She said the park was a nicer place to walk around and the event would receive more exposure downtown.
As many as 600 people have attended in the past and the event has raised as much as $28,000.
The item was tabled until later in the meeting. At that time, the request failed for lack of a second.
Board member Toby Sumpter wanted to make sure churches and other charities weren't being charged. Cathy Folk wanted to know who had been given the pavilion free in the past.
City councilman Jeff Grose said if the ACS was allowed to use the facilities free, any non-profit would be eligible.
Activities director Janelle Wilson said she would compile the information regarding who had free use of the facilities in the past.
Mark Stamper, Travis Miller, Alan Ross and Dave McCool, organizers of the "Young Tiger Football" team, approached the board about developing a football field at Richardson-DuBois Park on East Market Street.
Calling the Lakeview Middle School overused and the one at Edgewood a dust bowl due to the dry weather this summer, Stamper said there appeared to be enough room for a regulation field in the park.
"We want to get kids ready for middle school football," he said. "We teach them the fundamentals."
Young Tiger Football, for ages 8 to 12, has one team now and is a member of the Noble County Football League. Eight communities, including a team from the Tippecanoe Valley area, travel to each other's fields for a game. The Young Tigers have just completed their first season. There is a $45 registration fee for each child.
Stamper said running a football program is expensive and they have shied away from the City-County Athletic Complex because of the user fees charged there.
Ross said the team would take responsibility for maintaining the field.
Maintenance supervisor Larry Plummer Jr. said the park is minimally used and he would rather see it used than not.
The board took the request under consideration.
Park member Bill Baldwin said he thought the CCAC's soccer fields also could be used as football fields.
Parks superintendent Jon Garber said the work on the Firemen's Building was primarily done by parks department employees and cost $35,000. Estimates by contractors put the cost at $67,000.
Plummer said he was very proud of the employees' work, that they did a great job.
The building's capacity is 100 people and rents for $75 per day. The nonprofit rate is $50, Monday through Thursday.
Plummer said he and Wilson joined Warsaw city planner Jeff Noffsinger on the proposed Lake City Greenway trail from Pike Lake to the Kosciusko Community Hospital campus.
He said he cannot get a straight answer from Noffsinger, who is raising funds and planning the greenway, about who would be maintaining the boardwalk, asphalt path and other features of the recreational trail.
He asked Grose to provide a firm answer about who would be responsible for maintenance.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a request by the Northern Lakes Skating Association to flood the softball field at Richardson-Dubois Park for an ice rink.
• Heard the 12 Days 'Til Christmas Party, sponsored by the parks department, will be Dec. 13 at Center Lake Pavilion from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Heard a cap of New York blue stone has been placed on top of the Biblical Gardens' stone wall. The masonry is designed to keep water from penetrating the interior of the wall, which has caused cracking the the past.
Garber also reported a few limbs of the large grape arbor are in need of replacement and a repair person is being sought for the work.
• Received rental and lease rates for the parks and facilities. The information includes revenue and expenses for each park and the campground. Garber asked the board to review the rates and recommend changes at the next meeting.
• Set the next meeting for Dec. 10 in the Firemen's Building at 5:15 p.m.
Park board members are Bill Baldwin, Toby Sumpter, Cathy Folk, Bob Richmond and city council appointee Jeff Grose. John Sadler was absent. [[In-content Ad]]
New siding, an addition, new flooring and kitchen facilities, new walls and doors and bathroom remodeling have transformed the Warsaw Parks Department's Firemen's Building. The park board held its November meeting there Tuesday, hearing requests from an American Cancer Society representative and members of a traveling football league.
Kristen Everett asked that Central Park and the facilities there be donated to the society during the annual Relay for Life. She said the 24-hour event raises money for local cancer programs and recognizes those who have recovered from the disease. The request includes use of stages, parking areas, Center Lake, the pavilion, covered picnic shelters, the plaza, restroom facilities and electrical hook-ups.
"In return, the Warsaw Parks Department will be recognized as a $5,000 sponsor and be included on all printed materials and advertisements," the community development director said.
The event has been held at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in the past. She said the park was a nicer place to walk around and the event would receive more exposure downtown.
As many as 600 people have attended in the past and the event has raised as much as $28,000.
The item was tabled until later in the meeting. At that time, the request failed for lack of a second.
Board member Toby Sumpter wanted to make sure churches and other charities weren't being charged. Cathy Folk wanted to know who had been given the pavilion free in the past.
City councilman Jeff Grose said if the ACS was allowed to use the facilities free, any non-profit would be eligible.
Activities director Janelle Wilson said she would compile the information regarding who had free use of the facilities in the past.
Mark Stamper, Travis Miller, Alan Ross and Dave McCool, organizers of the "Young Tiger Football" team, approached the board about developing a football field at Richardson-DuBois Park on East Market Street.
Calling the Lakeview Middle School overused and the one at Edgewood a dust bowl due to the dry weather this summer, Stamper said there appeared to be enough room for a regulation field in the park.
"We want to get kids ready for middle school football," he said. "We teach them the fundamentals."
Young Tiger Football, for ages 8 to 12, has one team now and is a member of the Noble County Football League. Eight communities, including a team from the Tippecanoe Valley area, travel to each other's fields for a game. The Young Tigers have just completed their first season. There is a $45 registration fee for each child.
Stamper said running a football program is expensive and they have shied away from the City-County Athletic Complex because of the user fees charged there.
Ross said the team would take responsibility for maintaining the field.
Maintenance supervisor Larry Plummer Jr. said the park is minimally used and he would rather see it used than not.
The board took the request under consideration.
Park member Bill Baldwin said he thought the CCAC's soccer fields also could be used as football fields.
Parks superintendent Jon Garber said the work on the Firemen's Building was primarily done by parks department employees and cost $35,000. Estimates by contractors put the cost at $67,000.
Plummer said he was very proud of the employees' work, that they did a great job.
The building's capacity is 100 people and rents for $75 per day. The nonprofit rate is $50, Monday through Thursday.
Plummer said he and Wilson joined Warsaw city planner Jeff Noffsinger on the proposed Lake City Greenway trail from Pike Lake to the Kosciusko Community Hospital campus.
He said he cannot get a straight answer from Noffsinger, who is raising funds and planning the greenway, about who would be maintaining the boardwalk, asphalt path and other features of the recreational trail.
He asked Grose to provide a firm answer about who would be responsible for maintenance.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a request by the Northern Lakes Skating Association to flood the softball field at Richardson-Dubois Park for an ice rink.
• Heard the 12 Days 'Til Christmas Party, sponsored by the parks department, will be Dec. 13 at Center Lake Pavilion from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Heard a cap of New York blue stone has been placed on top of the Biblical Gardens' stone wall. The masonry is designed to keep water from penetrating the interior of the wall, which has caused cracking the the past.
Garber also reported a few limbs of the large grape arbor are in need of replacement and a repair person is being sought for the work.
• Received rental and lease rates for the parks and facilities. The information includes revenue and expenses for each park and the campground. Garber asked the board to review the rates and recommend changes at the next meeting.
• Set the next meeting for Dec. 10 in the Firemen's Building at 5:15 p.m.
Park board members are Bill Baldwin, Toby Sumpter, Cathy Folk, Bob Richmond and city council appointee Jeff Grose. John Sadler was absent. [[In-content Ad]]