Warsaw Park Board Tuesday reviewed a letter and petition from residents in opposition to a proposal for a splash pad being located at Hire Park, east of the BMX track.
Kosciusko Leadership Academy graduates Jeremiah Heierman and Aaron Christner previously attended the board's meeting requesting land for a splash pad."As far as a splash park is concerned it looks like it is steering toward the CCAC and based on the size and residential area Hire Park doesn't look like a place for a splash pad," Park Board President Bill Baldwin said.
Warsaw Parks Superintendent Jon Garber agreed that Hire Park would not be a good location for a splash pad.
"With the events and traffic flow that has occurred at Hire Park, it may not be the best location for a splash pad," Garber said.
"My contention has always been that I don't want to sacrifice anything the park offers now, facility or activity wise to something new," Garber said.
The board has been discussing possible locations for the proposed splash pad since February, but has not yet decided on a location.
Heierman and Christner attended Monday night's City-County Athletic Complex meeting to request land at the CCAC be used for a splash pad.
The KLA members were informed during Monday's CCAC board meeting that CCAC members will get back to them on their decision. The CCAC board made comments in support of having the splash pad at the CCAC during its meeting Monday.
Heierman attended Tuesday night's park board meeting and said the group is keeping its options open on a splash pad location.
Heierman said the CCAC board has requested information on splash pads that use well water and inquired how the filtration system would work since the CCAC runs on well water.
The KLA group is seeking grants to pay for construction, but has not yet collected funds. The cost to install a splash pad is $125,000.
The board also reviewed a letter from Mark Green, Columbia City superintendent. Warsaw Park Superintendent Jon Garber e-mailed Green with questions about splash pads the board had.
Green said Columbia City opened its splash pad last July 4 and averaged around 250 people each day. It opens at noon and shuts down at 8 p.m. and is open from June to Sept. 15.
The board reviewed a letter Tuesday addressed to Baldwin from Roy Crosier, Pike Lake Parkshore Place Condo Association. Attached was a petition with 34 signatures from its residents opposing a splash pad at Hire Park.
The letter states during previous BMX events at Hire Park there was traffic congestion, and association members are concerned about the possibility of the construction of a splash pad along East Arthur Street.
The letter states the association supports the concept of a splash pad, but does not understand where those who would use the splash pad will park their vehicles.
The letter states if a splash pad is constructed immediately east of the BMX facility it will reduce the parking and camping area that is always used during routine BMX events.
Andi Loverde, Pike Lake Parkshore Place Condo Association president, attended Tuesday's park board meeting and said the association had concerns with high traffic volumes generated from a BMX nationals event. She said there was a large amount of vehicles parking on Arthur Street during a BMX nationals event this summer.
"Our main concern was the parking generated from the BMX event on Arthur Street, and we had issues with people pulling into our parking lot and we tried to tell those who attended the BMX event that it was private property and they could not park there," Loverde said.
Loverde said parking is prohibited on the west side of Arthur Street and BMX event attendees still parked there.
"We have only one entrance in and out of the condo off of Arthur Street and there was congestion," she said.
Dan Rumple, Hire Park BMX association president, said there were gators and four wheelers to direct traffic and the group used Hire Park, Zimmer and Pete Thorn Youth Center parking lots.
Rumple said law enforcement officials stopped BMX coordinators from transporting attendees back and forth in the gators and four wheelers from the parking lots to Hire Park. He said he was not aware people were parking on Arthur Street making it impassable for nearby residents.
Rumple said the BMX group plans to get parking signs for large events in the future, and if needed will put no parking signs where needed.
"We learned a lot and hopefully next time will get permits to have the gators out there and plan for parking so we can cart people around," Rumple said.
Baldwin said it is not a monumental problem, but requested the two groups sit down and come up with a better parking plan for the BMX event. He encouraged the groups to stay in contact with one another and advised the BMX group to abide by public safety rules.
"I think this is an issue the two of your groups can resolve and I would say the ball is in your court because I am confident you both can work it out," Baldwin said.
Park Board member Steve Haines said he has a grandson who rides a bike at the BMX track and he though the BMX event officials did a great job of keeping the event under control.
The board also heard a 9/11 Memorial update from Garber. The board approved the memorial to be placed north of the flag poles at Center Lake Pavilion in October.
The memorial honors those who lost their lives during 9/11 and pays tribute to Kosciusko County law, fire, and emergency medical personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Garber said foundation for the memorial has been installed and the stone is being cut and it will be worked on as donations come in.
