From left, Syracuse park’s Superintendent Chad Jonsson, and Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation members Jerry Wright and Dr. Tom Edington review financial records. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE —Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation’s board had its first meeting of the year tonight Tuesday, July 28. The foundation’s committee reviewed the financial report and the community center’s endowment fund.

The first order of business was the financial report. The report was given by the foundation’s treasurer, Dr. Tom Edington. For the month ending in June, the foundation’s grand total in its account is $446,504.01.

He also noted that the Conklin Bay trail fund has $224,552.51. That project has now been completed.

Edington said there is a potential for a new trail from the new ball park on Kern Road to Wawasee High School and Syracuse Elementary for students to use coming to and from Kern’s Crossing.

“We could be a donation vehicle,” Edington said of partial funding for the trail to the school.

Shrock Field’s account at Key Bank has $20,745.86. The checking account balance is $79,793.56.

The foundation also reviewed the community center’s endowment fund. The fund’s balance is $90,880.65. The community center’s fund at Edward Jones has $32,886.32.

Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson noted that the Kiwanis Club’s brick endowment fund continues to grow.

As the community center has reached 20 years since being open, “we need to fund repairs,” said Jonsson. There is $31,847.47 in the fund that is available for any repairs that may be needed.

Edington said of the center, “It doesn’t look like it,” noting that Jonsson has “kept the building in good condition.”

Jerry Wright, foundation president, said close to 90 people are invited to the Conklin Bay ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 30, at Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, on SR 13 in Syracuse. The project consists of a boardwalk and a new trail.