Chad Jonsson, superintendent of parks and recreation, told the Syracuse Park Board Monday that work was progressing at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex.

NIPSCO has installed power to both the concession stand and maintenance buildings. The sewer pump is in place, waiting to be connected.

Work is continuing on the interiors of both buildings interiors. Scoreboards have been ordered and a football scrimmage is scheduled to take place Saturday, Oct. 13, after the Harvest Festival.

Jonsson stressed the scrimmage will not be a dedication or grand opening, which will come later. It will be a preview day for the sports complex.

Goal posts for the football field have been delivered and should be set this weekend. The sprinkler system has also been installed and work is being done on the sewer lines.

Jonsson also provided information to the park board about the memorial clock at the veterans memorial in Crosson Mill Park. Jonsson provided board members with two quotes, to repair and replace the clock.

To repair the clock will cost between $3,700 and $4,000. Jonsson noted the clock is about 10 years old and the parks department started having problems with it 3 years ago. The city of Warsaw has a similar clock that it has owned for 17 years with no issues. Warsaw did replace a motor, but only because the new motor adjusts for daylight savings time and to have a power outage reset feature.

Advisor Donna Workman asked if the American Legion contributed anything to the maintenance of the park. Jonsson said, no, it had raised money for the purchase of the clock, but he could approach the Legion about assisting in covering the cost of the repairs.

Jonsson noted a $6,000 repair bill basically wipes out the repair line item in the budget. Dave VanLue, park board president, stated the clock needed to be replaced. Jonsson said he could look at soliciting donations, the non-reverting funds to see what is available. VanLue said he felt the Legion should be approached to help.

The park board made a decision on park signage for the athletic complex. The board quickly chose a design featuring a light brown sign with green lettering.

In the program report, board member Shirley Connolly asked about the haunted house this year. This year the park department will be doing a haunted woods, called the Haunted Thrill at Crosson Mill. The haunted woods will be Oct. 25-27.

There are five weeks left for the Farmers and Artisans Market. Zumba classes will be offered with a free Zumba party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. During the party participants can register to win free classes. Registration is underway, cost is $25 for residents and $35 for non-residents.

Participation was low for the Pump Pass and Kick event with only 12 kids participating this year. VanLue asked about the low turn out. Tyler McLead, program coordinator, and Jonsson said they suspected there was some interference with pee wee football.

McLead said he wasn’t sure since he marketed the event more this year. He noted not one of the kids pre-registered were from Syracuse. Syracuse is the only park system in a 2-hour driving radius offering the program.