Pictured, from left, Warsaw Parks Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner and Parks Board President Steve Haines.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Parks Department held a Central Park design charette and input session at the Central Park Pavilion Tuesday, July 17. With the Buffalo Street project underway, future improvements are on the horizon for Central Park.

The event began with an introductory session to bring everyone up to speed on the current status of Central Park and its amenities, the positive impact the Buffalo Street project will have on the park and feedback gathered from the public at the 2018 Lakes Festival.

Ron Dick and Chris Stine from Design Collaborative, Fort Wayne, led the discussion, with assistance from Architect Jerod Monce and two interns, Leigh Groninger, Mentone, and Brooke Sayler, Warsaw. 

“I’ll let everybody know right now, in case you’re nervous about it, that the Center Lake Pavilion isn’t going anywhere,” said Stine, a Warsaw native. “It’s clear that people love this place and it’s kind of sacred ground, so any discussion about the pavilion is about how we can use it even better, how it can be improved or updated.”

“There’s nothing in concrete – these are just ideas,” Stine stated. “The direction we got from Joe [Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer] and Larry [Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer] and everyone else was to make sure that we’re getting input and taking our cues from the taxpayers and people who are actually using the parks.”

Feedback received at the Lakes Festival indicate that the top choices submitted by residents include festivals, kayak and canoe rentals, an ice rink, farmers’ market, public art, recreational sports, bike rentals and a concession stand. Other suggestions included zip lining, fishing pole rentals, a splash pad, indoor play area, disc golf and a climbing wall.

At last night’s meeting, attendees broke into three groups to share their input with designers. Ideas offered and discussed at last night’s meeting included more signage for the park, food trucks, updates to the pavilion such as a larger kitchen and removal of a wall to offer views of the lake, a greenhouse, restroom quality, quantity and security, parking, a carousel, bike rental station, a dog park, ice rink, beach concessions, extending the beach, a kids’ club or activities and a welcome center.

“The biggest thing with the ice rink or another structure close to the pavilion is that possible destruction of grounds and removal of trees was seen as a negative side in our group, but also there would be the beneficial uses of having a space adjacent to this one so that you have indoor and outdoor space that could be used,” said Monce.

Improving park entrances and/or visibility of park entrances was discussed.

“The Detroit Street entry – you’re used to it because it’s here, but when you drive down Detroit Street you don’t know the park is here until you’re on it or past the entry there – and that’s because of the gas station,” said Stine. 

“There’s a need for The Gardens of Central Park and the Biblical Gardens to have resources for a greenhouse. It could be more of an educational center and could also combine into a really nice formal entrance off of Detroit Street, so there’s another opportunity there,” Stine stated.

Mayor Thallemer described Central Park as “the heartbeat of our community.”

“We want to continue to make this a better park,” said Thallemer. “Look at how the amenities have changed in this park over the years.”

Attendees broke into three groups to discuss ideas and offer suggestions.