Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Andy McCleary, activities director for the Warsaw Park Board, presented to board members Tuesday a revised list of rules from last month's meeting for Mantis Skate Park.
The park was originally set up in 1995. McCleary has been working to improve conditions of the park for skaters.
These improvements include revisions and adjustments in the skate park rules.
"All these rules come from other skate parks that already exist," McCleary said.
Supervision, age requirements and waivers are all important items on the list of rules.
Jeff Grose, board member, said the rules were well done and commended McCleary on his efforts.
"I think it's great," Grose said.
Minor revisions in wording and ordering of the rules will be made before McCleary submits them for final approval at next month's Park Board meeting.
In other business:
• The board decided to continue with the T-ball agreement for this year. The agreement papers were signed Tuesday.
The T-ball agreement expands the rules to allow younger children to participate in softball.
The board has signed this agreement, which is incorporated with Kosciusko Little League, the past two years.
"It's been going well," board president Toby Sumpter said.
• The board also signed the YMCA summer program proposal. The program has run since 1991.
Under the proposal, the board pays the YMCA $5,000 in two payments. In return, the YMCA uses park facilities to provide additional summer day-camp and child care programs.
YMCA also promotes Warsaw parks on all their materials.
The YMCA also will be assisting with the summer park program called Kid Fest.
Kid Fest is for children age 6 to 10 and will take place June 14 through Aug. 9.
During Kid Fest, there will be activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Center Lake Park.
The YMCA helps put on organized games, fitness programs and arts and crafts. They also provide lunch either in the pavillion or in the park, itself.
"It's something we probably wouldn't run ourselves," park superintendent Jon Garber said.
• Board members reviewed the 2000 Special Projects Action Plan Matrix.
Included in the plan was the completion of 25 new picnic tables, repairing the brick paving at the Central Park Plaza and enlarging the Center Lake lifeguard room.
• Garber discussed the donation of trees to Central Park with board members.
"We're pretty picky about what goes in Central Park," he said.
He explained that the tree should fit with the overall layout of the park.
The board decided the tree decisions should be left up to Garber and Larry Plummer Jr., parks director.
"We're all comfortable with your decision-making," Sumpter said.
• McCleary briefly discussed the draft concept plan for the Lake City Greenway Project.
The Greenway Project is a multi-jurisdictional, recreational path used for biking, walking, jogging and cross-country skiing. It is proposed to run eight to nine miles beginning where the old Chicago Boys Club used to be in Winona Lake.
McCleary said the next park board meeting will be open to the public to discuss the path. This meeting will be held March 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Nye Youth Cabin.
The Warsaw Park Board consists of: Toby Sumpter, president; John Sadler, vice president; Jeff Grose, council representative; Cathy Folk, school board representative; Larry Plummer Jr., parks director; Andy McCleary, activities director; Gail Bryan, office manager and recording secretary; Jon Garber, park superintendent; Brian Smith, representative for Northern Lakes Skating Association, Don Clemens and Bob Richmond.
