Manchester Closer To Bike Trail Construction
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester is one step closer to beginning construction on its non-motorized trail throughout the town.
Ideas and plans for the bike and walking trail started two years ago when the Parks and Recreation Department received a grant in 1998 from the Indiana Department of Commerce to help fund the trail. Assistant parks director Donna Boomershine said Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Muncie, was hired in 1998 to develop a master trail plan for the parks department. The plan was completed in 1999.
Parks director Brian Wagner reported Wednesday to the parks board that he and Boomershine met with Deane Rundell of Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Don Rinearson, North Manchester town council president, and Dan Hannaford, North Manchester town manager.
"We discussed what piece of that phase to do," Wagner said.
Cost for the first phase of the trail is estimated at $4.5 million, which exceeds the cap for individual projects by approximately $3.5 million.
"Since the first phase is so much, we need to break down into probably four different phases," Boomershine said earlier.
Wagner said plans are to concentrate on the loop along the Eel River that travels across the covered bridge to Mill Street and around Manchester Elementary School.
"He didn't think we would spend over $1,200 (on the first phase)," Wagner said of his meeting with Rundell.
Board members approved spending up to $1,200 for services to Rundell toward completion of the first phase of the trail.
The money will be taken out of the 2001 budget.
When completed, the trail will connect the college, the schools, the main street businesses, all of the parks (which will include the Town Life Center and Maple Park) and the shopping center on Main Street, Boomershine said earlier.
Completion could be years from now, she said.
In other business:
• Board member Dennis Frieden reported the Manchester Recreation Association is $5,230 ahead, "which is better than last year."
"We are keeping the money (situation) in hand," he said.
• Wagner gave a financial report to board members and said they have a "positive bottom line."
Wagner also said the patron account is doing good this year.
"We're still beating numbers over last year," he said.
Frieden said more than 30,000 people have visited the pool this year through October.
"Not bad for a town of 6,000 people," board member Brad Yoder said.
• Board members approved the 2001 Parks and Recreation rates. Board president Anne Myers said the fees are the same as last year except for one change made at the last meeting.
Boomershine reported Nov. 1 that membership rates at the Manchester Community Pool will increase 10 percent.
"This will be the first increase in four years," Myers said.
Frieden asked if membership rates will be posted for the public to see.
"As of Jan. 1, they will be posted out front (of the pool)," Myers said.
Daily admissions for adults, age 18 to 59, will be $2.50; youth, age 8 to 17, will be $2; youth, age 7 and under with an adult, will be admitted for free; and senior citizens, age 60 and over, will be $1.75.
• Wagner told board members he planned on getting in contact with the soccer club, an independent organization put together by parents for North Manchester children, to see how they plan on maintaining the soccer field "and if we're going to be part of that."
• Frieden asked board members what's been done with the Harter's Grove (near Scout Hall) vandalism.
Board member Larry Miller brought the vandalism issue to the board's attention at the last meeting. He said he's noticed vandalism and asked board members if vandalism was a problem in North Manchester. Wagner said it's not a problem, but vandalism does occur occasionally. "When we spot it, we try to deal with it immediately," Wagner said earlier.
• Boomershine said new swim lessons began this week for adults and tiny tots, ages 1 and 2.
• Miller asked board members what kind of liability the pool has. He was concerned about liability since high school students use the pool's facility and a high school student recently drowned in Fort Wayne.
"We're just more hands-on," Wagner said. "We have more personnel per kids out there than what they (Fort Wayne) would have."
Wagner said only one drowning has occurred in the past 15 years and he keeps reminding his staff to keep an eye on swimmers.
• The next park board meeting is Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. in the Seward Memorial Building. This is the only meeting for the parks board in December.
North Manchester Department of Park and Recreation board members are: president Anne Myers, parks director Brian Wagner, assistant parks director Donna Boomershine, Dennis Frieden, Larry Miller, Brad Yoder and Kay Batdorf. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester is one step closer to beginning construction on its non-motorized trail throughout the town.
Ideas and plans for the bike and walking trail started two years ago when the Parks and Recreation Department received a grant in 1998 from the Indiana Department of Commerce to help fund the trail. Assistant parks director Donna Boomershine said Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Muncie, was hired in 1998 to develop a master trail plan for the parks department. The plan was completed in 1999.
Parks director Brian Wagner reported Wednesday to the parks board that he and Boomershine met with Deane Rundell of Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Don Rinearson, North Manchester town council president, and Dan Hannaford, North Manchester town manager.
"We discussed what piece of that phase to do," Wagner said.
Cost for the first phase of the trail is estimated at $4.5 million, which exceeds the cap for individual projects by approximately $3.5 million.
"Since the first phase is so much, we need to break down into probably four different phases," Boomershine said earlier.
Wagner said plans are to concentrate on the loop along the Eel River that travels across the covered bridge to Mill Street and around Manchester Elementary School.
"He didn't think we would spend over $1,200 (on the first phase)," Wagner said of his meeting with Rundell.
Board members approved spending up to $1,200 for services to Rundell toward completion of the first phase of the trail.
The money will be taken out of the 2001 budget.
When completed, the trail will connect the college, the schools, the main street businesses, all of the parks (which will include the Town Life Center and Maple Park) and the shopping center on Main Street, Boomershine said earlier.
Completion could be years from now, she said.
In other business:
• Board member Dennis Frieden reported the Manchester Recreation Association is $5,230 ahead, "which is better than last year."
"We are keeping the money (situation) in hand," he said.
• Wagner gave a financial report to board members and said they have a "positive bottom line."
Wagner also said the patron account is doing good this year.
"We're still beating numbers over last year," he said.
Frieden said more than 30,000 people have visited the pool this year through October.
"Not bad for a town of 6,000 people," board member Brad Yoder said.
• Board members approved the 2001 Parks and Recreation rates. Board president Anne Myers said the fees are the same as last year except for one change made at the last meeting.
Boomershine reported Nov. 1 that membership rates at the Manchester Community Pool will increase 10 percent.
"This will be the first increase in four years," Myers said.
Frieden asked if membership rates will be posted for the public to see.
"As of Jan. 1, they will be posted out front (of the pool)," Myers said.
Daily admissions for adults, age 18 to 59, will be $2.50; youth, age 8 to 17, will be $2; youth, age 7 and under with an adult, will be admitted for free; and senior citizens, age 60 and over, will be $1.75.
• Wagner told board members he planned on getting in contact with the soccer club, an independent organization put together by parents for North Manchester children, to see how they plan on maintaining the soccer field "and if we're going to be part of that."
• Frieden asked board members what's been done with the Harter's Grove (near Scout Hall) vandalism.
Board member Larry Miller brought the vandalism issue to the board's attention at the last meeting. He said he's noticed vandalism and asked board members if vandalism was a problem in North Manchester. Wagner said it's not a problem, but vandalism does occur occasionally. "When we spot it, we try to deal with it immediately," Wagner said earlier.
• Boomershine said new swim lessons began this week for adults and tiny tots, ages 1 and 2.
• Miller asked board members what kind of liability the pool has. He was concerned about liability since high school students use the pool's facility and a high school student recently drowned in Fort Wayne.
"We're just more hands-on," Wagner said. "We have more personnel per kids out there than what they (Fort Wayne) would have."
Wagner said only one drowning has occurred in the past 15 years and he keeps reminding his staff to keep an eye on swimmers.
• The next park board meeting is Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. in the Seward Memorial Building. This is the only meeting for the parks board in December.
North Manchester Department of Park and Recreation board members are: president Anne Myers, parks director Brian Wagner, assistant parks director Donna Boomershine, Dennis Frieden, Larry Miller, Brad Yoder and Kay Batdorf. [[In-content Ad]]