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Two organizations approached the Warsaw Parks Department board to schedule major events in Central Park next year.
Joyce Columbo, representing the Relay for Life, an event to benefit the American Cancer Society, asked for June 25 and 26, and Jeff Rostochak of the Warsaw Fire Department asked for Oct. 8 to hold the Focus on Safety event. Both events were approved.
The parks board allows nine "major" events to be held in Central Park each year. Six of the events already are slated by the Parks Department. For 2005 there is one more opening.
Columbo asked that the $1,000 fee to use the park for 24 hours be waived, which was denied.
"If we waived the fee for one not-for-profit organization, everyone would want the fee waived," said board member Bill Baldwin.
She said more than $57,000 was raised this year, an increase of $37,000 over the previous year.
However, the Parks Department cannot charge another municipal department to use the park, so the WFD will use the park for free in October.
Rostochak said the department would like to bring in more fire trucks for demonstrations, and a Samaritan helicopter landing is scheduled too.
Stacy Anderson, who serves on the Focus on Safety committee, said more than 300 families attended this year's event, which was held on a closed-off street downtown.
The Lego-Robotics Club gave a presentation showing handicapped-accessibility features of the park, including low curbs on sidewalks, ramps and the rubber mats at the Kiddieland playground.
The club members - giving their names as Christian, Jessica, Jake, Quinten, Tai, Graham, Heather and Zack - asked the board to approve the club's request for a wheelchair swing installation in Kiddieland. One set of swings for toddlers had room left for another piece of equipment.
Dick Rooker, club sponsor, said the club would apply for a K21 Foundation grant and that the special swing, recreated in a swinging Lego-built model, would cost $3,500 to $4,000.
Baldwin asked that more information be presented, like size and weight and installation requirements. The board gave permission for the club to apply for the grant.
The board also:
• Reviewed an offer from the mayor's office indicating that $10,000 remains in the Sesquicentennial Committee accounts.
The proposed funds could be used to purchase a clock with four faces in Central Park according to a letter from Mayor Ernie Wiggins. The city would have to make up the balance of the clock's costs - $10,000.
• Accepted a letter of resignation from parks board member Bob Richmond. Richmond said he could not attend the meeting regularly anymore.
• Reviewed a letter from East Lake Skate Center owners Joseph and Carol Chester saying the facility is for sale. Chester asked if the city had any interest in purchasing the business.
• Heard an anonymous donor is interested in purchasing a covering at the entertainment stage. Parks superintendent Jon Garber said the donor has $100,000 for the project. The item was tabled until all the information could be gathered.
• Set Dec. 16 as the next meeting.
Parks board members are Bill Baldwin, John Salder, Toby Sumpter, Cathy Folk and Bob Richmond. Jeff Grose is the city council's representative. Richmond was absent.
