SYRACUSE — Syracuse Park Board is near to finalizing a five-year master plan priority list in 2016 that will determine the direction of park plans for the next few years.

Part of the master plan includes the possibility of a new pavilion, upgrading an older building and the application of a grant for new basketball hoops.

Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson opened the discussion for building a pavilion at the ballpark in memoriam of Dick Pelletier. The pavilion would potentially be named the Pelletier Pavilion and would be located near the parking lot. The board agreed to the consideration of the construction.

Upon exploring why the lights would not turn on in the Lakeside concession stand, it was discovered that the electrical panel that runs to the concession stand had destroyed the breaker box. The board made the decision to keep the building open and look into options for fixing the electricity in order get the bathrooms in working order for the immediate future.

The park department applied to the K-21 Foundation to get some drop-down basketball hoops to replace the current hoops. If the grant isn’t accepted, the current hoops will need some new pads.

In tree health news, Jerry Riffle speculated that there are a few trees in the community which may have frost damage.

Riffle also reported a fantastic Arbor Day celebration, with 88 third-graders attending. The kids had three different stations to learn from, tree planting, tree identification and worm farm station.

Current updates include the spring herbicide application was applied for the year, the gazebo roof was finished, and the cement walk near the community center has been laid and stamped. The walkway to the gazebo is finished in a stamped gray color, with stain and sealer scheduled to be put on this month.

Suggestions for the future were offering more non-carbonated and sugar free drinks at the ballpark concessions and the possibility of trying to bring back some sort of performances in the park.

Tyler McLead, program coordinator, reported a good attendance of 20 to the recent family movie night, with an average of 30 a night for the six movies throughout the year. The largest showing being 75 in February.

The school dance on April 22 had 120 in attendance, with an average of 94 per dance throughout the year. Six dances are scheduled for next year.

Kid Safety Day had bad weather, but within the first hour there were still 35 helmets that were distributed and the kids who attended greatly enjoyed the event.

The Artisan and Farmers Market kicked off on May 7, with 25 vendors. Sixteen are signed up to be there every week. An updated vendor directory is on the farmer’s market website.

The Kid’s Market will be held every second Saturday from June – September, with Art in the Park on Saturdays from June 11 – Aug. 13.

Downtown Cruise-in is from 4-8 p.m. Friday, May 20, and the Wawasee Kiwanis Car Show will be from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21. That evening at 7 p.m. is also a bingo fundraiser at the community center for craft materials.

Registration for the second annual June 25 Mudtastic Classic is currently open. There will once again be an adult class and a youth class, with new obstacles this year.