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Private groups wanting to sponsor concerts and other large events in Central Park next year are going to have to dig a little deeper into their pockets.
The Warsaw Parks Board approved a new policy Tuesday that will increase the park's rental to $1,000 per day for events with an expected attendance of more than 500 people, with flat fees for stage extensions and portable electric transformers.
The change is not to the liking of everyone, particularly Ron Roetman, assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church, of Warsaw. The church has sponsored a major Christian music concert for the past three years.
"What I'm hearing is it's going to cost us $1,500 per day and I'm not sure it's fair to charge a group that is doing such good things for the community that much to use the public's park," Roetman said. "I see the park as being a public facility, to be used by the public."
Board member Tamara Dalton, who served on the subcommittee that developed the new park rental policy and fees, said the rental fee is needed to cover the costs the Parks Department incurs to handle large events such as the Christian concert or the BalloonFest concert.
"It's not just a question of man-hours involved in the preparation and cleanup, it's also the wear and tear on the facilities," she said.
Board president Don Clemens concurred, saying that the large events are normally conducted over the weekends and that the personnel costs alone approach the $1,000 level.
"It's not just a matter of one person, it's several parks department personnel. And it's not just one day, it's a day to set up, the day of the event, and a day to clean up," he said. "This is weekend work, so it's at time-and-a-half."
Included in the new fee structure are electricity costs.
Roetman also disagreed with the policy that prohibits scheduling events in Central Park when other, separate events are scheduled in Central Park Plaza.
"I don't think it's right to rent out the plaza for weddings, when the rest of the park can't be used for other events that day," Roetman said.
Clemens said the intention of the board in prohibiting two events scheduled at the same time was to maximize the general public use and enjoyment of the park.
"The community can still enjoy a walk through the park and enjoy the flowers when there's a wedding going on. You can't really do that when there's a concert going on," he said.
Central Park Plaza's rental rate was established at $100 per day.
In other business, the board received an update on the expansion of the Park's Canal Street office from facilities manager Larry Plummer.
"The expansion is framed, the roof has been completed. We are beginning to work on the interior drywall," he said. "The furnace is in and functioning."
Plummer expects the work to be completed by the end of the year, he said.
Andy McCleary, activities director for the department, reported that the grant application to the Department of Natural Resources for the proposed bike trail between Kosciusko Community Hospital and Pike Lake has been submitted.
"DNR was very impressed with our plans," he said. "There were 22 applications received and the department is looking at awarding four grants this year."
McCleary said if the grant is not awarded this year, city planner Jeff Noffsinger will reapply after Jan. 1, when $700,000 more in grants funds becomes available.
