NORTH MANCHESTER - Two years ago, the North Manchester Park and Recreation Department began formalizing thoughts and ideas on a trail through most of the town. Today, those thoughts are entering the first steps to becoming a reality for North Manchester.

The Park and Recreation Department received a grant in 1998 from the Indiana Department of Commerce to help fund the non-motorized 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 Mike Helton of INDOT and gave Helton a copy of the master trail plan.

"He had a lot of nice things to say about our plan," Wagner said. "We're getting some really good players involved in terms of getting off on the right foot."

But the parks department has run into a problem.

Boomershine said the first phase of the trail will cost roughly $4.5 million.

"At this particular point, we are looking at wanting to get some of that (federal) money," she said. "Last year the cap for individual projects was $1 million. Since the first phase is so much, we need to break down into probably four different phases."

Currently, the parks department is awaiting contact from INDOT.

"We are setting up a meeting with federal people," Boomershine said. "We are trying to decide how to break the first phase."

Although construction for the trail has not yet began, plans are still rolling along smoothly.

"Part of this first phase includes redoing the riverbank behind the main street businesses and then putting a boardwalk behind there," Boomershine said.

The trail will connect the college, the schools, the main street business, all of the parks (which will include the Town Life Center and Maple Park) and the shopping center on Main Street, Boomershine said.

The parks department wanted to create a trail that would wind throughout the entire town, a trail that community members can walk along safely.

"Some of it will be sidewalks here in town," Boomershine said. The sidewalks will be 6 feet wide.

"When it's completely done, we will have three foot bridges that cross the river, and two of them will be 200-foot spans," Boomershine said.

Completion could be years from now, she said.

In other business:

• Board member Dennis Frieden reported the Manchester Recreation Association has $400 "more cash than we had last year.

"It looks like we're going to be in pretty good shape ... nothing irregular," Frieden said.

• Wagner gave a financial report to board members and said the parks department raised more money this year than their operating balance. But, Wagner said, the budget is as close as he's seen it since he's been with the parks department.

Board president Anne Myers asked Wagner if he anticipated the department to be over budget this year. Wagner said they will not be over budget and they are still ahead of last year. "We're too close for comfort this year," he said.

• Wagner told board members he heard the high school may be getting a soccer team. Board member and school board secretary Larry Miller informed the board no official action has taken place concerning the matter.

"We've not been approached by the soccer club in the past few months," Miller said. "It is quite costly to start up a new sport, but we're researching it."

Miller said the soccer club, an independent organization put together by parents for North Manchester children, has not yet approached the school board requesting soccer become a sport at MHS. However, they may be talking with the MHS athletic director.

• Wagner said the Firehouse is continuing to develop and is "going in the direction of youth-driven."

He said Nov. 18 will be a work day for volunteers "to make sure the building is ready for the winter."

The Firehouse is a place for all ages to hang out and enjoy live music from various local bands. It's on Main Street, and occupies the old fire station. The building is owned by the Parks and Recreation Department.

• Myers reported Peabody Retirement Community will soon receive funds from the Community Foundation for park improvements.

• Miller said he's noticed vandalism in Harters Grove (near the Scout Hall) and asked board members if vandalism has been a problem in North Manchester.

"We don't have the vandalism problem that other communities do," Wagner said, "but, we do have (vandalism) occasionally and when we spot it, we try to deal with it immediately."

• Board member Kay Batdorf said she doesn't see many people using Frantz Park, off of Ind. 13.

Wagner said the park is really a neighborhood park and "we think a pavilion would foster usage" at the park.

Frieden said a basketball hoop is set up in the park and "we've replaced the net quite a few times, so we know it's being used."

• Boomershine reported membership rates at the Manchester Community Pool will receive a 10 percent increase.

"This will be the first increase in four years," Myers said.

• Boomershine said the Haunted Forest went well last week. "We made over $600," she said.

• The next park board meeting is Nov. 29 at 5:45 p.m. in the Seward Memorial Building.

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]]