Members of Brownie Girl Scout Troop No. 00148 came before the Syracuse Park Board to make a request via a skit during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. The girls told the park board they would like to use the money they raise from selling Girl Scout Cookies to purchase a wheelchair swing.

Board member Jason Traycoff asked which park the girls would like to place the swing in. The girls said they would like to add the swing to the playground at Lakeside Park. Board President Dave VanLue asked if the swing would be a stand alone structure or attached to the swings already in place. The girls said it would be a separate structure.

Along with performing the skit, the girls provided a poster, outlining the type of swing they would like to purchase. It would allow wheelchairs to be rolled onto it and be strapped in. Cost would be around $1,400.

Each girl in the troop has pledged to sell two cases of girl scout cookies and ask other community organizations to help them out with donations.

The girls said they are unaware of any other wheelchair swings in the area. The park board approved allowing Brownie Troop No. 00148 to raise money for a wheelchair swing.

In the department reports, park superintendent Chad Jonsson reported members of the Wawasee Kiwanis held a clean up day Saturday, May 11, along the Pickwick Drive section of trail. The next trail committee meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, May 20. This will be the first month, committee chairs will come back with a monthly report. The trail committee is also working with a grant writer on pursing some larger state grants.

Jonsson provided the first three pages of a 34-page property appraisal to the board and asked for input. The board is looking at two parcels of property, one located north of the community center on Long Drive and the Rotary property located on Wildwood Drive. VanLue suggested pursing the matter further.

Kip Schumm, board vice president, asked for thoughts on using each of the pieces of property. Jonsson noted it would be nice to just have control of the property north of the community center.  As for the property the Rotary owns, it has a lot of potential including a pond. Jonsson told the board nature and science projects could be done out there. He pointed out both have value and there are currently no parks south of the railroad tracks. VanLue mentioned the pond could be used to run radio controlled boats.

Tyler McLead, program coordinator, provided the program report. The fifth season of the Farmers and Artisan Market opened Saturday, May 11, with 29 seasonal and 16 weekly vendors. Despite it being chilly, the market had a good turnout for the first day. More farmers to provide produce would be welcome.

This weekend will be the Cruisin’ Cuse annual car show. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, will be the Cruise in downtown with vendors, a business expo and vendors. Saturday the car show will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the community center with the cruise around the lake at 3:15 p.m.

For a more in-depth report of the park board meeting, see today’s issue of The Mail-Journal.