Calling Upon Syracuse Residents For Laudeman Park Input
SYRACUSE — Set up in the celebration hall of the community center were more development plans for Laudeman Park Monday evening, April 8, for the Syracuse Park Board meeting.
After the last public meeting where neighbors of the park shared input, ideas were added and displayed to gather more public suggestions and critiques. At the next meeting, May 13, the park board will review the public’s suggestions and opinions.
Due to the lack of public presence and not wanting to move forward without residential comments, the parks department will be displaying the development ideas at the community center and on the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
Additions made to the plans include a simple gazebo and picnic area, a quarter mile trail along and a walk path around the pond. Pat Brown of SiteScapes also included a stone play area for kids to play or hangout on in the park.
While it is maintained by the parks department, it will be the community’s park and be made with the community’s wants and needs in mind.
Jerry Riffle reported Syracuse received the Tree Growth Award, which board members congratulated him on. He shared a tree will be planted at 12:30 p.m. April 26, at Syracuse Elementary School in celebration of Arbor Day.
With the rest of spring and then summer approaching, the parks department is preparing the parks for visitors by replacing signs, fixing lighting, painting benches and other routine maintenance.
After the school dance Friday, April 12, students grades six through eight are welcome to participate in the flashlight egg hunt at 9 p.m. at Lakeside Park. Students do not have to attend the dance in order to take part in the egg hunt. The grand prize will be a $50 gift card for Walmart.
At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13, all children grades five and under are invited to attend the Lakeside Park egg hunt, play games, make a craft and meet the Easter bunny. Each age group will have their own designated area. There will also be free hot dogs, chips and cookies.
Those who love geocaching can be a part of the Eggsploration Geocache Hunt from April 13 to 22. Everyone is welcome to participate for free. Passports with instructions and GPS coordinates of the first egg will be given. Completed passports must be turned into the community center by 8 p.m. April 22, to be entered in a prize drawing.
Registration is open for the fifth annual Mudtastic Classic. Participants can register at the community center or online at www.runreg.com/mudtasticclassic for $25 per adult and $15 for youth. To receive a T-shirt, register by June 7.
Kids from ages 7-14 have an opportunity to show off their baseball and softball skills at Pitch, Hit and Run at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex. There will be four age groups. Participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have a guardian complete a registration form before the competition, which can be picked up at the community center or submitted at www.pitchhitrun.com.
Touch a Truck will give kids the opportunity to see, touch and explore their favorite big vehicles, from tractors to fire trucks. The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the community center.