Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson, Jeff Nicodemus and President Paul Newcomer review plans for new pickleball courts in Syracuse. The Syracuse Parks Department received a $90,000 grant for the new courts to be located at Schrock Athletic Complex. Photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Parks Department received a $90,000 grant recently for new pickleball courts. The park board heard this news at its Monday, April 14 meeting.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, said the grant was received from the K21 Foundation.

Work on the new pickleball courts will begin sometime this year and be completed by the end of the year, he said.

Niblock Excavating estimated the new courts will cost around $115,000. The parks department budgeted some of the funds and the town of Syracuse granted other funding for the courts. Both total $25,000. The town used some of its American Rescue Plan Act money to help fund the courts.

There will be three courts with fencing also to be installed, as well as painting and paving work to be done. The new courts will be located at Schrock Athletic Complex.

Benches may also be put in around the courts for spectators.

In other news in his tree board report, Jonsson noted that trees will be planted at Schrock Athletic Complex on Arbor Day.

He said the trees will be delivered Wednesday, April 16.

Third grade students from Syracuse Elementary School will help plant the trees from 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 25. Nine will be planted on the south side of the field and seven others in various places.

The Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams and the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation will also be on hand at the tree plantings.

New signs for Laudeman Park were also discussed. Jonsson passed out a draft of what the new signs will look like. A butterfly garden is also proposed for the park.

The board discussed replacing the light ring for the aeration fountain at Veterans Memorial Park. The light ring stopped working part way through the summer of 2024.

“We found all the light fixtures were getting water into them, causing the breaker to fail,” said Jonsson.

After getting a quote just to replace the light ring, he also decided to investigate replacing the entire unit. He presented some quotes to park board members. The matter was not approved at the meeting; however, the board asked Jonsson to reach out to one of the bidders, Ever Blue, to see if any equipment would be under a warranty.

The park board discussed fertilizer for the parks. Jonsson said Advanced Turf is working on a program for the parks department and should have that information for May’s meeting.

Jonsson said he is working on the 2025 park projects’ list. Some projects have been completed while others are expected to be done in the next couple of months. He said he will update the park board as projects are done.

Jonsson gave the program report. A crushed glass class will be from 2-4 p.m. May 24. The first one was a success with 17 people in attendance.

The Touch-a-Truck event will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3. Anyone interested in bringing a truck may call Jonsson at (574) 457-3440.

The farmers market will open May 17 with four season vendors already signed up. Jonsson said he’s been “getting a lot of calls” inquiring about the market.

The 11th annual Mudtastic Classic will be Saturday, June 21, at WACF in Syracuse with 20 people already registered.

The next park board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Syracuse Community Center.