Dan Buchman and Amy Rensberger chat about their day before the park foundation meeting.

SYRACUSE — Park foundation members chatted and caught up with one another Tuesday, Oct. 23. Parks Superintendent Chad Jonsson brought the foundation up to date on previous projects that had been going on, such as the Lakeside Park restrooms, community center’s new sign and the replacement of the fitness room floor.

Jonsson commented the restrooms are completed other than the heaters needing to be hooked up for winter. He then went on to inform the foundation about the donation for the new community center signage and when it will be completed.

Jerry Wright inquired about the old sign letters and if there had been another business or organization that could use them. Jonsson replied he is still searching to see who could use the letters so they wouldn’t have to be dumped.

Regarding the trails committee, Erick Leffler added the trail section along Syracuse-Webster Road has been completed and Brook Pointe Inn is looking into continuing the trail along its property. Fundraising for the Conklin Bay projects are still ongoing, which received two bids.

“Because the economy is doing as well as it is, those bids came back quite a bit higher than what our original bid quote was,” explained Leffler. “We’re back to the drawing board on some of those funds to figure out how we’re going to try and get to that number, but we’re still moving in the right direction. Another big thing we’re working for is that the governor put $60 million toward trails in Indiana. We’re trying to get a grant or donation from that to build up for the Conklin Bay project.”

Tails and Trails will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 27, at the community center. The event will showcase a dog friendly trail system in the Syracuse community and will include a five-mile walk around Syracuse Lake, snacks for both humans and dogs, a costume contest and a raffle. There will also be several vendors, vets and groomers.

After finishing up old business, Jonsson proceeded to explain the replacement of the fitness room floor after it was becoming too warped for comfort. The new floor is similar to a typical mat tiling found in most fitness rooms. The foundation accepted to pay for it out of the maintenance fund before adjourning.

The next scheduled meeting is Nov. 27, but is subject to change due to the upcoming holidays.