Park Board Mulls Tony Elliott Memorial In Warsaw Park
June 21, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Warsaw Parks and Recreation Superintendent Larry Plummer told the park board Tuesday that Mayor Joe Thallemer was approached by Elliott’s wife and mother about the placement of a sign in a park. Elliott, from Warsaw, raced all over the world and was “well-liked” by his fans and other competitors, Plummer said. Plummer said he personally knew Elliott.
Many other cities have found places in parks, cemeteries or other locations for similar signs to honor other race car drivers, Plummer said.
Elliott was one of four local men who died in a plane crash Oct. 2, 2015, while headed to a Notre Dame-Clemson football game. The other three were Scott and Charlie Smith and Scott Bibler.
Park board President Steve Haines said, “In the past, we have kind of shied away from this because we don’t really have any guidelines for doing something like this. I would kind of like to see us table this for a month and maybe set up a committee of three people to study what other towns do and come up with some suggestions because we could end up with a lot of people wanting to put plaques up.”
Larry Ladd, board vice president, asked if the family has a personal preferences of where they would like the sign to be. Plummer said there was a “difference of opinion” as Elliott’s mother wanted to see something in Central Park so it would be more visible, but Elliott’s wife expressed interest in having it located just past the bridge at Pike Lake. The family was longtime campers at Pike Lake.
The Indiana Racing Memorial Association brought it up to Thallemer, Plummer indicated. The association would provide and place the sign and have a ceremony.
Board member Michelle Boxell asked if there were any other memorials in any of the city’s parks. Plummer said there were two – one in Central Park for Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Det. Sgt. Phillip Hochstetler who was shot and killed in the line of duty; and a plaque and planter in Kiddieland at Center Lake for a past park superintendent.
Rick Paczkowski asked if the park department received many requests for memorials in the parks. Plummer said it’s received some requests in the past that it turned down.
“I think we need to come up with some sort of criteria as to allowing memorials in the park, whether it be someone who represents an ambassador for Warsaw or represents parks and recreations, sports or something like that. Maybe have an area, an ambassador row, or something that would highlight one of our parks where people could go through and actually view these things,” Plummer said.
Since he knew Elliott, he said he wanted to stay impartial on the decision, but there needed to be some criteria. Plummer said Elliott’s family just wanted the sign in his hometown of Warsaw to honor him.
Paczkowski said it might be a good idea to table it for a month and let people discuss it and gather information. Boxell said they needed to find out what other communities did with memorials.
Ladd made a motion and the board agreed to table the request and appoint a committee to study the issue.
In other business:
• Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner said the playground audit has been completed for this year.
“Overall, the playgrounds are holding up pretty well. We’ve had several minor issues throughout, which have been corrected,” he said.
Gardner said one of the “roughest” playgrounds the city has is Rarick Park behind the former Marsh Supermarket. He said misuse and vandalism have taken their toll on that playground.
“There’s really not any safety hazards, it’s just not aesthetically pleasing,” he said.
The park has been there since 1993, and he said they will try and replace the playground equipment in 2018.
• Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa gave a report on the park department’s programs so far this year.
Only two activities had to be canceled this year due to lack of interest: Doughnuts with Dads and bowling. All of the other programs since the park board’s last meeting have been successful, she said, with a lot of turnout.
The next concert in the park is at 7 p.m. Friday in the plaza with The Bulldogs. The Blues & BBQ concert is July 7 with headliner Tinsley Ellis.
• Plummer thanked Paczkowski for his four years of service on the park board. Tuesday was Paczkowski’s last board meeting.
Paczkowski was the Warsaw Community Public Library representative on the park board, but he stepped down from the library board so he has to be replaced on the park board with a school or library representative, Plummer said.
Paczkowski said, “For the time I’ve been here, Larry, your park employees take a lot of pride in keeping the parks looking great. And I think the community should be very proud of the parks and your employees, and I’m going to miss this group because it’s been a fun group. I wish you the best.”
• Plummer requested the board’s approval to request permission from the city council to move funds from equipment to contracts for a prefabricated restroom at Richardson-Dubois Park. The park board approved.
• Ladd asked again about putting up directional signs to Kelly Park from Ranch Road. Plummer said he didn’t think he was in attendance at that meeting, but he’d look into it.
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Warsaw Parks and Recreation Superintendent Larry Plummer told the park board Tuesday that Mayor Joe Thallemer was approached by Elliott’s wife and mother about the placement of a sign in a park. Elliott, from Warsaw, raced all over the world and was “well-liked” by his fans and other competitors, Plummer said. Plummer said he personally knew Elliott.
Many other cities have found places in parks, cemeteries or other locations for similar signs to honor other race car drivers, Plummer said.
Elliott was one of four local men who died in a plane crash Oct. 2, 2015, while headed to a Notre Dame-Clemson football game. The other three were Scott and Charlie Smith and Scott Bibler.
Park board President Steve Haines said, “In the past, we have kind of shied away from this because we don’t really have any guidelines for doing something like this. I would kind of like to see us table this for a month and maybe set up a committee of three people to study what other towns do and come up with some suggestions because we could end up with a lot of people wanting to put plaques up.”
Larry Ladd, board vice president, asked if the family has a personal preferences of where they would like the sign to be. Plummer said there was a “difference of opinion” as Elliott’s mother wanted to see something in Central Park so it would be more visible, but Elliott’s wife expressed interest in having it located just past the bridge at Pike Lake. The family was longtime campers at Pike Lake.
The Indiana Racing Memorial Association brought it up to Thallemer, Plummer indicated. The association would provide and place the sign and have a ceremony.
Board member Michelle Boxell asked if there were any other memorials in any of the city’s parks. Plummer said there were two – one in Central Park for Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Det. Sgt. Phillip Hochstetler who was shot and killed in the line of duty; and a plaque and planter in Kiddieland at Center Lake for a past park superintendent.
Rick Paczkowski asked if the park department received many requests for memorials in the parks. Plummer said it’s received some requests in the past that it turned down.
“I think we need to come up with some sort of criteria as to allowing memorials in the park, whether it be someone who represents an ambassador for Warsaw or represents parks and recreations, sports or something like that. Maybe have an area, an ambassador row, or something that would highlight one of our parks where people could go through and actually view these things,” Plummer said.
Since he knew Elliott, he said he wanted to stay impartial on the decision, but there needed to be some criteria. Plummer said Elliott’s family just wanted the sign in his hometown of Warsaw to honor him.
Paczkowski said it might be a good idea to table it for a month and let people discuss it and gather information. Boxell said they needed to find out what other communities did with memorials.
Ladd made a motion and the board agreed to table the request and appoint a committee to study the issue.
In other business:
• Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner said the playground audit has been completed for this year.
“Overall, the playgrounds are holding up pretty well. We’ve had several minor issues throughout, which have been corrected,” he said.
Gardner said one of the “roughest” playgrounds the city has is Rarick Park behind the former Marsh Supermarket. He said misuse and vandalism have taken their toll on that playground.
“There’s really not any safety hazards, it’s just not aesthetically pleasing,” he said.
The park has been there since 1993, and he said they will try and replace the playground equipment in 2018.
• Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa gave a report on the park department’s programs so far this year.
Only two activities had to be canceled this year due to lack of interest: Doughnuts with Dads and bowling. All of the other programs since the park board’s last meeting have been successful, she said, with a lot of turnout.
The next concert in the park is at 7 p.m. Friday in the plaza with The Bulldogs. The Blues & BBQ concert is July 7 with headliner Tinsley Ellis.
• Plummer thanked Paczkowski for his four years of service on the park board. Tuesday was Paczkowski’s last board meeting.
Paczkowski was the Warsaw Community Public Library representative on the park board, but he stepped down from the library board so he has to be replaced on the park board with a school or library representative, Plummer said.
Paczkowski said, “For the time I’ve been here, Larry, your park employees take a lot of pride in keeping the parks looking great. And I think the community should be very proud of the parks and your employees, and I’m going to miss this group because it’s been a fun group. I wish you the best.”
• Plummer requested the board’s approval to request permission from the city council to move funds from equipment to contracts for a prefabricated restroom at Richardson-Dubois Park. The park board approved.
• Ladd asked again about putting up directional signs to Kelly Park from Ranch Road. Plummer said he didn’t think he was in attendance at that meeting, but he’d look into it.
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