An amendment to the agreement with DLZ Engineering approved by the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission on Monday will accelerate the process for the Warsaw Airport Park.
The new park will be bound to the east by North CR 100E and to the north by East CR 300N. Once fully completed, it will be pet friendly and will be an alternative sports park that includes a multipurpose field, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, bocce, an 18-hole disc golf course and a cricket field. Supporting facilities will include parking, a walking trail, gathering nodes, shelters, playgrounds and restrooms, according to a description of the project.
Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner said the original agreement with DLZ for the preliminary design report was $46,300. The amendment to that agreement increases the fee by $308,000 to $354,300 for the full design of phase I of the park.
Commission member Joe Thallemer asked if funding for the park has been identified yet. Skinner said the intent would be to use tax increment financing (TIF) funds and to go after grant funding. He’s had some communication on some grant opportunities, so once the park design gets a little further along, the design can be shared for those grant opportunities.
“The primary objective of this park is to fill in some gaps that we have,” Skinner said, with alternative sports. He also said it will be the first city park that will be pet friendly.
Thallemer said that by approving the amendment, it creates a timeline for the project.
“I think this is a great project,” he said.
Commission member and Council President Jack Wilhite asked what the TIF-to-grant ratio looked like. Skinner said they’re looking at the project being funded 25% by grants.
Commission member and Councilman Mike Klondaris asked how long the design process would take so they could start letting out bids. If they get the grants and the pricing comes within where the city needs it to be, Skinner said it could be a spring 2025 project.
“There are a lot of ‘ifs,’” Skinner said. “Some of it is going to come down to pricing.”
Thallemer said he was sure the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board was committed to the project. Skinner said they were and Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer has been involved in the process. The park fits into the Park Board’s five-year master plan in terms of trying to create additional recreational opportunities.
Skinner said the park has received a lot of community support for it. They’re excited about it for a variety of reasons, including for the cricket field and the disc golf course. Just having a park that is animal friendly has people excited about it, too.
His goal is to get a $2 million park project, with 25% of it being paid for by grants.
Thallemer made the motion to approve the agreement amendment, Klondaris seconded it and it was unanimously approved.
The commission also approved engineering services by Engineering Resources Inc. for $17,500 for the engineering of the addition of a right turn lane at the entrance with the new Parkview Health Systems development located at the intersection of CR 200N and North Boeing Road. As a result of the right turn lane, there also will be some utility relocation after the project is completed.
“As part of the medical office complex that’s being proposed to be built on CR 200N, we have been asked to participate in some road improvements that will make traffic flow more efficient and safely in that area,” Skinner said.
Cost estimate of the right turn lane addition will be figured after the engineering design is completed.
Skinner said with the Anchorage Road project coming across and scheduled for next year; and the roundabout at CR 200N and Husky Trail being engineered currently, the space in between those two needs to be addressed further at some point down the line.
Thallemer said the other thing to consider is what will happen with U.S. 30 and the interchange with Anchorage Road.
“That information will be forthcoming here within the next few weeks. The Level 3 alternatives will be released. Basically, they’re going to put improvements in segments, and 15 being right there at Anchorage, we’ll have to wait and see what they’re going to propose for Anchorage because that certainly could impact what’s done upstream, if you will,” Thallemer said. “Just something else to consider.”
Thallemer made the motion to approve the engineering services, Klondaris seconded it and the motion passed unanimously.
In other business, the commission:
• Approved a $16,081.40 change order by G & G Hauling & Excavating Inc. for the Shelden Street improvements, bringing the total cost of the project up to $316,803.70. The contract was modified for additional work for electrical excavation and conduit installation. The project recently was completed.
• Approved the August claims of $536.64, Indiana American Water; $332.09, Indiana American Water; $122.83, NIPSCO; $6,217.50, A & Z Engineering; $500,000, Riepen LLC; $15,210, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC; $336.14, BIT Computers; $125, Redevelopment Association of Indiana; $7,500, Animal House Glass; $6,500, Animal House Glass; $27,932.79, G & G Hauling & Excavating Inc.; $22,482.36, G & G Hauling & Excavating; $31,680.39, G & G Hauling & Excavating; $4,850, DLZ; $42,000, West Hill Development; $300, KEDCO; $45,000, HCC Development LLC; and $18,144.50, Barnes & Thornburg LLP.