Park Board Discusses Storm Damage, Hears Tree City USA Update
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Park Board heard an update on storm damage during its meeting Tuesday night.
Larry Plummer, Warsaw Park Department superintendent, said there were nine trees damaged during the June storm including five in Central Park, three in Lucerne Park and one in Hire Park.
Plummer also informed the board there have been 86 geese captured on Center and Pike Lake as part of the yearly geese reduction efforts to keep the lakes clean and free of E. coli.
Also during the meeting, the board heard an update on a Tree City USA roundtable that was July 12 at Çenter Lake Pavilion.
Bill Baldwin, park board president, gave the update.
The roundtable included representatives from more than 60 communities in Indiana who either are Tree City USA communities, or who are interested in getting the status.
Pam Louks, community and urban forestry coordinator for Indiana Department of Natural Resources, was the keynote speaker.
Baldwin said Louks said she is interested in working with Warsaw to help it become a Tree City USA and said she is impressed with the city’s parks.
Warsaw is working to get a Tree City USA status.
Benefits of the tree city include an enhanced public image, and a city being eligible to apply for grants for city tree programs and receiving funds for storm management response.
The city still needs to approve a tree ordinance to become a tree city.
Each Tree City USA site must spend $2 per capita on tree-related activities.
The application is due Dec. 31 to the Arbor Day Foundation.
The program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forestry Services and the National Association of State Foresters.
Anna Burke, Lakes Festival coordinator, provided a report on the Northern Indiana Lakes Festival.
She said there were more than 2,000 children and adult visitors who attended the festival.
The board approved June 8 and 9 to be the dates for next year’s festival.
The board also approved allowing the local Steel Workers organization to hold a Labor Day picnic in Central Park Sept. 3.
Board members Steve Haines said the event is open to the community and free hot dogs, chips and pop will be offered.
The board approved waiving the fees for the Steel Workers organization’s rental of the Central Park shelter.
Staci Young, parks recreation director, provided an activities update.
She said there was low attendance at the Blues and BBQ Concert July 6 due to the heat.
She reminded the board Friday is the County Music Concert with Neal McCoy performing at 8 p.m. in Central Park and Tyler Farr will perform at 6:30 p.m.
The Family Carnival is Aug. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Central Park.
She said the parks department art camp is ongoing and averaging 18 to 20 kids a week.
Session two of free swim lessons has begun and there are 33 students registered.
Girls Night Out was held in June with 34 participants.
