Warsaw Park Board Tuesday approved a request for the city and Warsaw Parks Department to take ownership of the 9/11 memorial.
A dedication ceremony for the memorial was Nov. 1. The memorial honors local law, fire and emergency services personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Earlier this year, the board approved the memorial being placed outside Center Lake Pavilion in Central Park.During Tuesday's meeting, park board member John Sadler made the motion to approve the city and the park board taking on ownership of the memorial, and park board member Steve Haines seconded the motion.
Park Board President Bill Baldwin and park board members Toby Sumpter and Tammy Dalton also voted in favor of the ownership agreement.
The board reviewed a letter from Mike Cox, 9/11 remembrance committee co-chairman, regarding the memorial, who attended Tuesday's meeting.
"I would like to publicly thank the board for providing the site for what I believe is a beautiful memorial," Cox said.
He said the memorial was purchased and placed at a cost of approximately $10,000.
In the letter, Cox stated the 9/11 committee believes it is appropriate that ownership of the memorial rests with Warsaw and the parks department, and that the committee extends sincere appreciation for allowing the memorial to be placed in such an ideal setting.
Cox said it is the committee's goal to add sidewalks and a small amount of landscaping to the site as soon as necessary funds are raised.
Cox said the committee requests that the design and construction of the sidewalks and landscaping remain with the committee, subject to prior approval of the parks department and park board.
Also during the meeting, the board heard a request from Dave McCool, Warsaw Young Tigers Football vice president, to develop a football practice field for the league at the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park by Dollar General on Market Street.
The area where the league is proposing to develop a practice field is at Liz Frazier Field.
The field originally was a softball field, and McCool said developing a football field there would enhance the area and provide the league with a larger practice facility.
The league currently plays and practices at Fribley Field, with 26 practices a year. The project would include seeding the area and leveling it.
"Our thought is to keep the backstop that is there currently and put up a goal post," McCool said.
The field would be open to the public for frisbee and other activities when the league is not practicing.
"We are very limited in space when we get on the practice field, and the undeveloped area could be a place for the young and older kids to practice," McCool said.
Parks Superintendent Jon Garber suggested if the board approves the site being developed into a football practice field, signs be posted of the days and hours the football league practices so the public is informed.
McCool said the team would be open to posting practice times. He said teams practice Mondays and Thursdays for two hours each evening during its season, which runs from the end of August until the first of November.
"It's not something we look to have ownership of, but want to help develop the area and open it up for the league and everyone else," McCool said.
Garber said the board will seek public input and continue discussion at its January meeting on the request.
The board approved re-electing Baldwin to serve as the board's president in 2010.
In other business, Garber said a sign at the Senior Activity Center has been installed on the north end of the building, and an informational sign where letters can be changed also now is in front of the building.
Parks Director Larry Plummer said cushioning for playground equipment at Richardson-Dubois Park has been completed.
An insurance company recommended cushioning be placed under the playground equipment. Sand also has been placed under the equipment.
