July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
New park pool put on hold
Portland Park Board
The idea of adding a new pool to Hudson Family Park has gone off the deep end - at least for now.
Members of the Portland Park Board met Monday night and discussed several aspects of the park project - including deleting and adding features, bonding to fund the project and delaying the addition of the pool.
The president of the park board said he felt it best to finish this phase of the park project and consider adding a pool later.
"Obviously, we need more time for the pool," said park board president Neil Medler. "Besides, we have no money." Other park board members made no comment on Medler's statement.
He suggested the committee that came up with the idea of a new pool go ahead and begin raising money for the project. The committee - made up of local swimmers and their parents - estimated that a new pool could cost $1.7 million.
The city's current pool in Weiler-Wilson park, which is more than 50 years old, would be costly to repair.
Medler said that once about half of the money has been raised for a new pool, the city might consider bonding for the remaining cost.
Park board members also could not agree on where a new pool should be located in Hudson Park.
Current plans call for the pool to be located near the bottom of the existing sledding hill. The hill was created with dirt excavated in creating the pond.
If the pool were built at that location, the sledding hill would have to be adjusted to make room, said Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for The Schneider Corporation. She said Schneider officials already had planned to reconfigure the sledding hill to make a landing area.
Although some park board members suggested at their March 30 meeting that the pool be moved to the northeast side of the park, just east of the Salamonie River, so there would be adequate room, Albrecht said putting the pool near the bottom of the sledding hill would be the ideal location.
Utilities needed for the pool are already run to that area. If the pool were moved near the river, there could potentially be flooding and utilities would have to be run to that area, Albrecht said.
Also Monday, board members discussed changing aspects of the amphitheater.
Board member Rod Ashman said that he feels the amphitheater stage should have a roof and a back wall. Also, the planned restroom facility for the amphitheater should still be included in the plans, but the stone wall seating should be deleted. He said the amphitheater should also have a ticket and concession stand. The other park board members at the meeting - Medler, Sharon Bubp and Larry Freyburgher agreed. Board member Shauna Runkle did not attend the meeting.
Instead of the stone seating, Bubp suggested that the seating area be terraced to provide areas for lawn chairs.
Deleting the restroom facility, the ticket/concession area and all but two rows of the stone seating would decrease the cost for this phase of the park project to $1.17 million from $1.5 million, Albrecht said.
Board members also briefly discussed the addition of a gazebo at the southeast corner of the park near the amphitheater and pond.
Local sorority Tri Kappa plans to fund the construction of the gazebo. Sorority member Lori DeRome said about $11,000 has been raised for the project. She asked if city employees could build the gazebo to cut back on the costs.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, suggested that a volunteer work day be held, and local builders volunteer to build the gazebo.
The park board will meet Monday at noon in the Portland Fire Station meeting room, in hopes of ironing out plans for the park.
In a related matter, board members took a step toward securing bonds to pay for this phase of the Hudson Family Park project.
Board members approved a resolution needed if bonding is approved and voted to have a public hearing on bonding on May at 6 p.m. With this schedule, closing of the bond could be June 29.
The resolution states that if board members wish, the city will be reimbursed for any costs incurred in the 60 to 90 days before bonding is approved.[[In-content Ad]]
Members of the Portland Park Board met Monday night and discussed several aspects of the park project - including deleting and adding features, bonding to fund the project and delaying the addition of the pool.
The president of the park board said he felt it best to finish this phase of the park project and consider adding a pool later.
"Obviously, we need more time for the pool," said park board president Neil Medler. "Besides, we have no money." Other park board members made no comment on Medler's statement.
He suggested the committee that came up with the idea of a new pool go ahead and begin raising money for the project. The committee - made up of local swimmers and their parents - estimated that a new pool could cost $1.7 million.
The city's current pool in Weiler-Wilson park, which is more than 50 years old, would be costly to repair.
Medler said that once about half of the money has been raised for a new pool, the city might consider bonding for the remaining cost.
Park board members also could not agree on where a new pool should be located in Hudson Park.
Current plans call for the pool to be located near the bottom of the existing sledding hill. The hill was created with dirt excavated in creating the pond.
If the pool were built at that location, the sledding hill would have to be adjusted to make room, said Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for The Schneider Corporation. She said Schneider officials already had planned to reconfigure the sledding hill to make a landing area.
Although some park board members suggested at their March 30 meeting that the pool be moved to the northeast side of the park, just east of the Salamonie River, so there would be adequate room, Albrecht said putting the pool near the bottom of the sledding hill would be the ideal location.
Utilities needed for the pool are already run to that area. If the pool were moved near the river, there could potentially be flooding and utilities would have to be run to that area, Albrecht said.
Also Monday, board members discussed changing aspects of the amphitheater.
Board member Rod Ashman said that he feels the amphitheater stage should have a roof and a back wall. Also, the planned restroom facility for the amphitheater should still be included in the plans, but the stone wall seating should be deleted. He said the amphitheater should also have a ticket and concession stand. The other park board members at the meeting - Medler, Sharon Bubp and Larry Freyburgher agreed. Board member Shauna Runkle did not attend the meeting.
Instead of the stone seating, Bubp suggested that the seating area be terraced to provide areas for lawn chairs.
Deleting the restroom facility, the ticket/concession area and all but two rows of the stone seating would decrease the cost for this phase of the park project to $1.17 million from $1.5 million, Albrecht said.
Board members also briefly discussed the addition of a gazebo at the southeast corner of the park near the amphitheater and pond.
Local sorority Tri Kappa plans to fund the construction of the gazebo. Sorority member Lori DeRome said about $11,000 has been raised for the project. She asked if city employees could build the gazebo to cut back on the costs.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, suggested that a volunteer work day be held, and local builders volunteer to build the gazebo.
The park board will meet Monday at noon in the Portland Fire Station meeting room, in hopes of ironing out plans for the park.
In a related matter, board members took a step toward securing bonds to pay for this phase of the Hudson Family Park project.
Board members approved a resolution needed if bonding is approved and voted to have a public hearing on bonding on May at 6 p.m. With this schedule, closing of the bond could be June 29.
The resolution states that if board members wish, the city will be reimbursed for any costs incurred in the 60 to 90 days before bonding is approved.[[In-content Ad]]
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