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Thanks mostly to grant funding, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department will be able this year to relocate its skate park from 400 Little League Drive to the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park on East Market Street.
Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer told the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Thursday the K21 Health Foundation awarded his department a $275,000 grant to support the construction of a new concrete skate park at Richardson-Dubois Park.
The construction cost is $465,000, with a total projected project cost of $550,785.
“This project represents an exciting opportunity for both our community and the Parks and Recreation Department,” Plummer said.
Mayor Jeff Grose told Plummer he appreciated his efforts and for the K21 Health Foundation looking in the city’s direction for the entire community. “This is another example of that. A lot of money,” he said.
Councilwoman Diane Quance said she imagined that Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer was very hands-on with it. “And very excited,” Schaefer said.
“It’s incredible what’s happened here. The opportunity for countless people, starting with, I hope, our youth,” Grose stated.
The board accepted the K21 grant unanimously.
Next, Plummer presented an agreement with American Ramp Company to construct the all-concrete surface skate park on the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park. He said American Ramp Company provided a Sourcewell contract for the project and offered a discount resulting in a savings of $43,455.50.
On the funding for the project, Plummer said he submitted grants to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for $19,984.33; The Dekko Foundation, $40,000; and the K21 Health Foundation for the $275,000.
In the park budget, $130,015.67 will go toward the skate park project.
He said the funding figures presented does not include the asphalting, security cameras or light fixtures, all of which will be done in-house. Street Superintendent Joe Vetor has been “very helpful” with the parking lot, and city electrician will do all the lighting and electrical work.
“So there is more project costs in this, but the actual construction of the concrete part of it is the $465,000,” Plummer said.
“So, basically, we’re paying less than a third of the project,” Quance stated.
The Board unanimously approved the agreement with American Ramp Company.
After the meeting, Plummer said the new skate park won’t look like the current Mantis Skate Park “because we’re not going to have wooden ramps anymore. It’s going to be all concrete. It’s got a bowl. We’ll post the design, we’ll get it on our website, but it has a bowl feature to it. It comes down and has interactive ramps and things in the concrete. Grind rails and different obstacles.”
He said it’ll be 177 feet by roughly 60 feet in area.
“We’re excited about it, we’re all excited about it. We wanted this for years. We tried in 2019. Thought we had the (Department of Natural Resources) grant, but we didn’t get it, so we had to give K21 their money back that year, but thankful they’re willing to sponsor it again this year and they’re excited. Their board is excited about it as well,” Plummer said.
Construction should start probably sometime later this month, with it anticipated to be completed by September or October.
“It’s kind of after the season, but it’s a little different because we’re not having an employee working there,” Plummer said. “It’s going to be open to the public during park hours, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. So, if it doesn’t snow, they’ll be out there. It’s kind of like disc golf - if it doesn’t snow, even if it does snow, they’ll be out there.”
There will be lights to illuminate it when it gets dark during park hours.
Schaefer said she believes the new skate park will be used “a lot more” than Mantis.
“The location is the big thing. The accessibility. You’ve got both middle schools moving over to (Lakeview) Middle School. You’ve got Lincoln. Sacred Heart. The neighborhoods. You’re not far from a lot of the downtown, so the skaters that are a menace to the downtown can go two blocks to the skate park now. I just think it’s a win-win for everybody,” Plummer stated.
The new skate park will go in where the old ball diamonds used to be. There’s still a backstop there now.
“We filled that even more in when they built the Martin’s Supermarket. We excavated the dirt from there and brought it over to the field to bring it up to height. It looks perfect out there. It’s high and dry and that’s what we want,” he said.
“Which is a win for us,” Schaefer agreed.
Concerts
With summer creeping up, Schaefer presented six concert- and event-related contracts to the Board, all of which were approved.
The first was a one-year agreement between the Parks Department and Kensington Digital Media for the promotion of the rock and country concerts in Central Park.
The Rockin’ Concert for Riley is June 19 and will feature Great White. The Country Concert for St. Jude is on July 17 and will feature The Frontmen, a country music “supergroup” featuring lead singers from the 1990s - Richie McDonald, formerly of Lonestar; Larry Stewart, Restless Heart; and Tim Rushlow, formerly of Little Texas.
Kris Lake, Kensington Digital Media, said, “This has been a really rewarding partnership for Kensington Media. I think the Parks Department feels the same way. We’re about to provide a significant amount of publicity for these shows, and we’ve, I think, grown the attendance for these shows, which has helped the fundraising for these two shows.”
The partnership has been ongoing since 2015.
“I just think it’s a great partnership. Very helpful to us,” Schaefer said.
The Summer Concert Series entertainment contracts approved included:
• Lake Area Community Band, concert band, $600, June 26, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central Park Plaza.
• Mason Dixon Line, country, $1,400, Aug. 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central Park.
• ThunderBeard, ZZ Top tribute band, $3,000, Aug. 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Glover Pavilion.
• The Resurrection Blues Band, blues, $750, July 10, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central Park Plaza.
• Heartland Sings, July 24, $500, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Lucerne Park Amphitheater.
Kosciusko County Community Foundation grant dollars are covering all the contract costs for the Summer Concert Series.
The other contract Schaefer presented was with Laughing Stock Productions for $1,350 to provide three clowns for balloon twisting and entertainment for the Family Carnival on July 31 at Central Park from 6 to 9 p.m. That contract also was approved.
