Park Board Continues Proposed Splash Pad Discussion
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Park Board Tuesday continued discussion on a proposed splash pad in Warsaw.
Kosciusko Leadership Academy members Jeremiah Heierman, Kathy Stutzman, Aaron Christner and Lynne Dittman previously attended the board's Feb. 17 meeting to discuss their proposal for a splash pad in Warsaw.A splash pad is an aquatic recreation system that provides combinations of interactive play for children and people with disabilities. A splash pad has no standing water and has an automated system where an individual presses a button or turns a nozzle on the equipment to signal the water to turn on. It also has interactive water play features for all ages, such as dumping buckets and waterwheels.
The KLA group in February proposed Richardson/Dubois Park or Central Park as locations for the splash pad.
Park Director Larry Plummer Tuesday gave a list of other possible locations for the proposed splash pad. He said he researched the water and sewer availability at each location.
Plummer said he has talked to Indiana American Water about financing the water bill for the proposed splash pad.
The possible locations Plummer recommended included Beyer Park east of the restrooms; Bixler Park north of the horseshoe pits; Boggs Park, south of the basketball courts; the east side of Hire Park; east of the shelter and south of the playground at Kelly Park; between the parking lot and the beach at the Municipal Park; and east of the basketball courts at Richardson-Dubois Park.
Park Board President Bill Baldwin requested the board look over the suggested locations for further discussion at a future meeting. The board still needs to approve the splash pad proposal.
In other business, Carrie Pintar, V3 Companies, Woodridge, Ill., provided an update on a shoreline stabilization project at Center Lake.
Park Superintendent Jon Garber said the project would include planting two feet of native plants along the shoreline at Center Lake to stabilize the shore area and prevent runoffs.
The company has completed identifying the project site at Center Lake. It includes 730 feet of shoreline that needs to be stabilized that has broken concrete that is eroding.
"We are seeing a lot of the sediment degrading the water quality and the overall goal of the project is to provide some naturalized vegetation to improve the water quality at Center Lake," Pintar said.
The company has completed engineering calculations and soil tests, completed symmetry studies to determine the deepness of the lake, and finished a land-use study.
Pintar said a wetland impact assessment study has been completed that still will need to be approved by the Army Corp. of Engineers and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The remaining tasks of the projects also include site visits by the organizations and determining the construction costs.
A Lakes and River Enhancement grant has been submitted in January, and V3 will know in July if they receive the grant for the stabilization project.
The board also approved a request from Marci Franks, Warsaw Community Schools food services director, to provide a summer food service program for children at Bixler Park Mondays through Fridays from June 8 to Aug. 7.
The lunches are available at no charge to any child ages 1 to 18. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and monitored by Indiana Department of Education, and operated through Warsaw Community Schools Food Services Department.
