Park Board Looks At Fees For Use Of Central Park
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Warsaw Park Board is considering changing its policy and fees for groups using Central Park and the Main Plaza for private concerts.
Jon Garber, park superintendent, and Andy McCleary, activity director, briefed the board Tuesday on the current policy and whether it may be necessary to change the policy to make sure the park is well maintained and expenses are covered.
"The plaza currently rents for $25 to $35, plus electricity, and no charge for the park," McCleary said. "What we're looking at is charging additionally for the park and how much to charge."
Garber said to make a determination to charge and how much to charge should be determined by how large the event is and what the board's desire is on how the park and plaza should be used.
"How do we want to use the park?" he asked. "Do we want active uses, such as the concerts we've had, or the passive use of people strolling and sitting in the park. The two uses can't necessarily be done at the same time."
To illustrate the point, Garber distributed a report on this summer's park events describing events as either large or small and park-sponsored and non-park-sponsored. Events with 750 or more attendees were classified as large. Under that classification, nine events this year would be classified as "large," with three of those being sponsored by private groups.
Garber asked the board to determine how much of the park department's costs of large events should be passed on to the private group sponsors of those events. Private groups are already required to pay for off-duty police to provide security and traffic control, he said.
"In addition to the question of active-passive uses, we also need to consider the costs of the wear and tear on the park," said Don Clemens, board president. Other questions Garber said he would like the board to consider are whether there should be a limit on the number of events each year and how many non-park-sponsored events should be allowed.
The board took the question under advisement for further consideration for the September board meeting.
In other business, the board approved the use of the Liz Frazier Softball Field by the Northern Lakes Skating Association as an ice skating rink during the winter months. The authorization is for a one-year trial period.
The board approved the acceptance of Mantis Skate Park from the Fraternal Order of Police. The facility is located in the Boggs Industrial Park.
The board also approved the proposed 700-square-foot expansion of the Parks Department Office that will nearly double the size of the facility. The expansion is being funded by the sale of the Fleda C. Vandeveer property.
Finally, the board approved an Indiana Waters Grant application, which, if approved, will be used to upgrade the Winona Lake public access site. [[In-content Ad]]
The Warsaw Park Board is considering changing its policy and fees for groups using Central Park and the Main Plaza for private concerts.
Jon Garber, park superintendent, and Andy McCleary, activity director, briefed the board Tuesday on the current policy and whether it may be necessary to change the policy to make sure the park is well maintained and expenses are covered.
"The plaza currently rents for $25 to $35, plus electricity, and no charge for the park," McCleary said. "What we're looking at is charging additionally for the park and how much to charge."
Garber said to make a determination to charge and how much to charge should be determined by how large the event is and what the board's desire is on how the park and plaza should be used.
"How do we want to use the park?" he asked. "Do we want active uses, such as the concerts we've had, or the passive use of people strolling and sitting in the park. The two uses can't necessarily be done at the same time."
To illustrate the point, Garber distributed a report on this summer's park events describing events as either large or small and park-sponsored and non-park-sponsored. Events with 750 or more attendees were classified as large. Under that classification, nine events this year would be classified as "large," with three of those being sponsored by private groups.
Garber asked the board to determine how much of the park department's costs of large events should be passed on to the private group sponsors of those events. Private groups are already required to pay for off-duty police to provide security and traffic control, he said.
"In addition to the question of active-passive uses, we also need to consider the costs of the wear and tear on the park," said Don Clemens, board president. Other questions Garber said he would like the board to consider are whether there should be a limit on the number of events each year and how many non-park-sponsored events should be allowed.
The board took the question under advisement for further consideration for the September board meeting.
In other business, the board approved the use of the Liz Frazier Softball Field by the Northern Lakes Skating Association as an ice skating rink during the winter months. The authorization is for a one-year trial period.
The board approved the acceptance of Mantis Skate Park from the Fraternal Order of Police. The facility is located in the Boggs Industrial Park.
The board also approved the proposed 700-square-foot expansion of the Parks Department Office that will nearly double the size of the facility. The expansion is being funded by the sale of the Fleda C. Vandeveer property.
Finally, the board approved an Indiana Waters Grant application, which, if approved, will be used to upgrade the Winona Lake public access site. [[In-content Ad]]