New Programs For Parks Department
WARSAW — A new year brought not only new officers for the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department, but also the announcement of new programs. Members of the parks department approved new programs Tuesday night, Jan. 19, at the department’s monthly meeting.
Sheila Wieringa, recreation director, presented the proposed programs and event fees for 2016. New programs include:
- Coffee and Canvas
- Lego Mania
- Community Paddle boarding
- Brushes and Bunnies
- Move It, Move It, an exercise class for kids with different activities daily.
Approved proposed programs and fees, per participant unless otherwise noted, include:
- Fly fishing workshops, $15
- Little Picasso’s Art Camp, $8
- Junior Golf Tour, $10 per week or $35 for the entire program
- Coffee and Canvas, $15
- Skate Park Big Trick Contest, $5
- Kids’ Mini Nature Camp, $25
- Lego Mania, $5; Zoo Bash, $10
- Skate Park Annual Competition, $5
- Family Carnival, 25 cents per ticket
- Zumba Workshop, $30
- Yoga Workshops, $5
- Letters From Santa, $2 per letter.
Free events will be:
- Classic Rock Concert
- Blues & BBQ
- Country Concert
- Family Carnival
- Fall Family Fun
- Light Up The Night
- Christmas Countdown
- 9 Central Park Concert Series concerts
- 14 Walking Classes, Fishing Derby
- 6 Community Canoeing Sessions,
- 6 Community Paddleboarding Sessions
- 8 Move It, Move It sessions
- 9 Kids Corner Sessions
- 2 Swim Lesson sessions
- 2 Family Movie Night in Central Park
- Beach Bash
Board members accepted grants from KREMC Operation Round Up of $1,500 to be used towards the Family Carnival and $5,758.80 from Kosciusko County Convention Recreation Visitors Commission for 10 Versa paddleboards and paddles. Grants were submitted to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation in the amount of $5,480 for the Central Park Concert Series and to the Indiana Arts Commission through St. Joseph County Community Foundation for the 2017 concert series.
During other business the 2016 special projects action plan matrix was presented to the board by Larry Plummer, superintendent.
Projects proposed for the first quarter include: the purchase of a Bobcat; updating a campground site; installing a roof on the mesh garden’s maintenance garage; and the shoreline stabilization project at Lucerne Park.
Second quarter projects include the purchase of Barber Surf Rake and repairs to Central Park Plaza.
Projects for the third quarter include the purchase of a new riding mower.
Projects covering the second and third quarter include: tearing down and constructing an open shelter at Nye Park; installing ornamental lighting at McKinley Park; purchasing a new truck; replacing playground equipment at Lucerne Park; replacement of the roof on the south end of the Pete Thorn Center’ and continuing board replacement on Beyer Trail.
Third and fourth quarter projects will be the construction of a new shelter at Bixler Park.
During other matters:
- Shaun Gardner, maintenance director, reported all Christmas lights have been taken down and the Young Tiger Football group donated $2,561 in proceeds from its concession stand. The money will be used for the 2016 display.
- Michelle Boxell, board member, was sworn in by Mayor Joe Thallemer for another four-year term.
- Steve Haines was elected president and Larry Ladd elected vice president of the board.