Syracuse Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson reported there has been significant progress in the development of the Syracuse Youth Athletic Complex during the regular monthly meeting of the Syracuse Park Board Monday night.

A well was installed Friday, June 8, and will soon be pulling water to irrigate the fields. Dirt for two of the infields has been delivered, but still needs to be spread out. CenturyLink has installed a utility pole on the park side of Brooklyn Street. NIPSCO still has to run power to the pole.

An application for power to the park has been submitted to NIPSCO and the buildings are currently on order. Jonsson hopes construction on them will start next week.

He also submitted a grant application to the K21 Foundation to cover bleachers, football goal posts and other incidentals. That grant application is currently under review.

The common walkways at the park are being installed using concrete washout.

The board also reviewed several proposed budgets, based on different percentages for salary increases. The board tabled discussion of the budget until it learns what the Syracuse Town Council will propose for other departments. Jonsson did note the sports complex was not part of the budget as presented. It will be added in as a line item.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee has been granted an easement on Warner Road to bring the trail from Cornelius to Eli Lilly Roads. The trail will now go across to the non-lake side of the road. Representatives of the trail committee also plan on attending a meeting of area bikers about trails throughout the county.

In the program report, program coordinator Tyler McLead said a majority of summer programming was canceled due to lack of interest. These included two sports camps for children and two yoga classes as well as the summer beach volleyball league.

Registration is still under way for an American Red Cross babysitting course and a computer skills class.

The Farmers and Artisan Market is doing well with 19 first time vendors participating and more interested vendors calling each week for information.

For more coverage on the Syracuse Park Board, see this week’s issue of The Mail-Journal.