SYRACUSE - Excitement over seeing the community center finally take shape prompted Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board President Bill Wight to say, "Once finished, the community center will be a focal point. It will solidify our community."

The board met briefly Monday for its monthly meeting in Town Hall, at which time it voted not to pave the five parking lots of the community center to save about $44,000.

Initial savings is about $68,900, but then gravel preparation of the lots will cost about $24,800, reducing the savings to about $44,000. Thanks to an anonymous donor, framing and roofing of the lighthouse will be on schedule and can be completed as funds are available. The board also agreed to remove two trees from Hoys Beach.

In other action, the board postponed appointment of another board member until next month, tabled a decision on chemical spraying of the grass in all parks for fertilization and weed control and postponed electrical work at Crosson Mill Park.

In discussing corporate funding for the community center, it was decided that it still is too early to initiate a fund-raising campaign, but not too early to prepare material that will be used for the campaign.

Parks superintendent Michael Hixenbaugh reported on his recent trip to Denver, Colo., to attend a meeting for parks and recreation supervisors of small towns and said he came back very excited about his work.

"We are very fortunate here because of the cooperation we see between all the town entities," he told the board, adding that the Secretary of the Interior, who was the keynote speaker, said that now more than ever parks services are needed to help people get through the stress of the past few weeks. [[In-content Ad]]