Syracuse Park Projects Pick Up Steam
SYRACUSE — Updates were delivered for the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department’s ongoing projects at the park board’s Monday, March 9, meeting.
Pulver Asphalt Paving Inc. started demolishing the Syracuse Community Center’s parking lot islands March 9, removing all of the trees to make way for lighting. This demolition was expected to wrap up the next day.
“The hope is to have everything poured by Friday,” Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson said, noting the boring company is scheduled to begin Friday as well. “After that, the electrician comes in and pulls the wire and we set the lights.”
Jonsson estimates the project should be completed in a couple of weeks.
In another matter, the site plan for the Laudeman Park’s plantings is being finalized with Heartland Restoration. The company’s plan is to spray some time in May, with the park department mowing a couple of times this summer, leading up to another spray application in the fall.
A permit has been applied for in regards to dredging the pond in front of the water control device at Veteran’s Memorial Park to remove silt that’s built up. Public notices have been sent out either in person or via certified mail.
“We’ve had issues with our fountain clogging up because of the silt,” Jonsson said.
Jonsson anticipates the dredging will occur in the fall. Aquatic Weed Control is contracted for the project.
Research continues on the new Ward Park playground. Jonsson noted he has spoken to three vendors so far but hasn’t found a design that reflects Syracuse yet. Once a design is selected, he hopes grants can be used to fund the project.
Work also continues on the St. Joseph River Basin Grant, with a teleconference having occurred with the surveyor and the St. Joseph River Basin Commission going over the process and potential maps that Syracuse might want to have done.
In other park issues mentioned at the meeting:
• 2020 has brought an uptick in community center usage with a total of 7,991 people visiting. This is up from 7,329 within the same time span last year.
• The Celebration Hall furnace has been installed.
• Pacemaker Buildings has submitted building permits to both Kosciusko County and the state of Indiana for the maintenance building addition. For now, Kline Excavating will be removing dirt from the site and adding a concrete base.
• The electrical room ventilation project was scheduled to begin March 10 and wrap up March 11.
• Future programs include two middle school dances from 7-9 p.m. March 13 and April 3; flashlight egg hunt 9 p.m. April 3; and the Easter egg hunt 10:30 a.m. sharp April 4. This year’s egg hunt won’t have dimes and large prize baskets; instead, the park department is purchasing large candy bars and goody bags for every child who participates in order to reduce pushing and shoving.
• The “Frozen” princess parties, scheduled for March 21, are sold out.