The completion of the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion and Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Office and creation of the Center Lake Recreational Trail were some of the accomplishments associated with Warsaw Parks in 2023.
Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer gave that information to the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board at its meeting on Tuesday as part of a year-end report from last year.
Other parks projects accomplished in 2023 include installing several art pieces donated by Milt and Marie Holmgrain and putting in a monarch garden at Buffalo Street Plaza with the assistance of the Macke family and a new roof on Glover Pavilion at Central Park.
Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer gave the board information on numbers from parks' events in 2023.

    Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department laborer Travis Thomas (R) received the Helping Hand Award from the department in January. With him is Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer. Photo by Leah Sander, InkFreeNews
  

A total of 21,048 people participated in organized parks' events in 2023, with a third, 7,000, coming from Lonestar's concert in July. The three next highest numbers of attendees came from Quiet Riot's concert, with 5,000; the collective Central Park concert series, with 2,879; and Light Up the Night, with 1,000.
Plummer mentioned the department brought in $52,054 from combining the fees charged at parks' programs and events with sponsorships and donations and grants.
Of the parks' facilities, the biggest moneymaker was the Pike Lake Campground, with a net income of $75,629.10. The parks' property with the lowest net income was the Pete Thorn Youth Center, said Plummer. It ended the year with only $557.92 netted, with Plummer adding rental rates will be increased there to improve the figure for 2024.
In other business, the board:
• Agreed to pay $1,000 out of the parks' budget to Dale Van Scoyk with Pickleball Sound Mitigation LLC. He's to visit Kelly Park in the near future to provide guidance on reducing sound from pickleball play there to address a resident's complaint. The expense also has to be approved by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety.
• Heard from Schaefer that the Daddy's Little Sweetheart Dance earlier this month went well.
• Heard from Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner that workers have built dock wings and pier extensions at Pike Lake Campground to help campers store boats.
• Heard parks' department laborer Travis Thomas received the department's Helping Hand Award in January for his "can-do attitude" and his being “always willing to lend a helping hand regardless of the task," said Plummer. The department is giving out more specific awards each month this year instead of the more general team member of the month.
The board's next meeting is 5:15 p.m. March 19 at Warsaw City Hall.