Carol Koble, left, and Mary Hursh discuss business prior to the Syracuse Park Board meeting Monday, Oct. 10, at the Syracuse Community Center. Koble is a park board advisor and Hursh is a park board member.  InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board discussed the new ball field, park and community center rental fees and trees at its monthly meeting Monday night, Oct. 10.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, reported on the progress that has occurred at the new Schrock Fields. He said as of Friday, the water sprinklers were working and the fields have been seeded.

“There’s been a lot of fence work,” he said. “There are some more final details to be done.”

Water meters need to be reinstalled. The backstop netting still needs to be put up, but Jonsson said he is not sure when.
“I turned the field lights on Friday,” he noted. “Hopefully, in the spring we can play ball there.”
He added that all of the cement work is complete.

Several trees will be removed in town. One is at Lakeside Park, Jonsson noted during the tree board report. “We may plant there in the spring,” he said.

Twelve other trees will be removed around town. Trees scheduled for removal are marked by a pink ribbon. The tree board is also working on a list of potential fall planting sites.

Jonsson said the mower for Schrock Fields was ordered. The tractor is in, but he’s waiting on the deck. At its September meeting, the board agreed to purchase a John Deere 1570 Terrain Cut with a rear discharge deck.

The fees for reservations for various park facilities, including Syracuse Community Center, were discussed. While the SCC is a popular site for special events, Jonsson said,“We don’t do a lot of gym rentals.”

Other rental facilities include Ward Park and the fee is $45. “Our rates look pretty comparable,” said park board member David Johnston.

Jonsson said the rental fees go into the park’s fund. When asked if the park department makes any money, Jonsson said, “We make a little bit.”

Any change in reservation fees will take park board approval. “We can decide in November when I have a new form,” said Jonsson.

The purchase of a new utility terrain vehicle for the park department was discussed, since the other UTV broke down. The parks department uses two UTVs and one is needed at the new ball field.

Darin Lursen, program director, gave the program report. He said Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct. 8, went well with a “great turnout.” He said there were 39 vendors that showed up and he said the pumpkins were gone by 12:30 p.m.

The indoor garage sale is “sold out,” Lursen said. There will be 31 vendors and the event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at SCC.

The trick-or-treat trail is from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Lakeside Park. A “creature crawl” is at 5 p.m. the same day. A 5K run and a 1-mile walk will also take place.

Basketball leagues are forming and registration begins in November.

Jonsson gave the financial report for Sept. 12 to Oct. 10, as well as the September monthly financial report.

The next meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Syracuse Community Center.