Pictured from left are Chad Jonsson, park superintendent; Darin Lursen, program director; and Shirley Connolly and Kip Schumm, both park board members, looking at the plans for the new Schrock Athletic Fields, Syracuse. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Plans for the new Schrock Athletic Fields were unveiled at the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board meeting Monday night, April 12. Park board members looked at the drawings for the new field before and after the meeting.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, said pre-bids for the project will take place Friday, April 16, as well as a meeting with engineers adding he is having weekly meetings with the engineers.

“We are planning on having a playground and a basketball court,” he said.

Jonsson reported the tree board will plant trees later this week in designated spots. The town was given the Tree City USA award for 2020.

A memorial tulip tree will be planted in honor of the late Dr. Jerry Riffle at Laudeman Park. A bronze plaque will display the following: In memory of Dr. Jerry Riffle, the “Syracuse Tree Dr.” 1934-2020.

Another tree will also be planted in honor of the late Sylvia Gargett.

The board heard an update on Ward Park. The boardwalk will be done this month, Jonsson said, but did not provide an exact date.

The community center’s restrooms are almost done and “look like real restrooms,” joked Jonsson.

Signage and park rules were also discussed. Jonsson said he is looking for some direction on both projects. “I need some input,” he told park board members.

He presented some ideas regarding signage from other parks, such as Woodburn, Ore. He also presented a list of current rules at all of Syracuse’s parks. One of the rules is pets must be on a leash at all times, which is located on a sign at Laudeman Park, and “no pets,” which is posted on signs at Lakeside Park, Veterans Memorial and Henry Ward Park.

Jonsson said the adopt-a-bench program is going well. So far, six benches have been adopted, and five are left. The cost is $500 per bench. Polywood has provided the benches.

The siding for the gazebo at Lakeside Park needs to be re-done and, so far, Jonsson has received two quotes.

“I have a meeting Wednesday with Vinyl by Design,” said Jonsson. “It (the siding) needs to be as maintenance free as possible.”

Kip Schumm, a park board member, asked, “Did you get bids from local people?” Jonsson told Schumm, “We are doing the siding in house as our summer project.”

Darin Lursen, program director, gave the program report. He said the Easter egg hunt “went well.” About 100 children attended the annual event Saturday, March 27.

“We also did a geo-hunt ‘eggsploration’ with 15 people taking part in the activity,” Lursen said.

Touch-a-Truck will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1. Registration for Mudtastic Classic is now open and, so far, 21 people have signed up.

The farmers market is set to open Saturday, May 8. The Artisans and Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, until Sept. 11, at Veterans Memorial Park at Crosson Mill.

Jonsson gave approval of claims for March 8 to April 12 and the financial report for March. He also said he is looking for lifeguards for the summer.

For more information, visit www.syracusein.org/departments/parks.

Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month, at the Syracuse Community Center.