Park plans form

Plans for phase IV of Hudson Family Park are now a little more concrete.

Members of the Portland Park Board sat down with officials with The Schneider Corporation and ironed out some of the details of the next phase of the park project.

During Tuesday's meeting, board members discussed the amphitheater, a memorial plaza, a playground and trails throughout the park. Board members also confirmed they will postpone the addition of a new pool to the park.

The board is trying to wrap up final plans for the park so bidding can begin mid-June. A public hearing on bonding for this phase of the park will be held Monday at 6 p.m. Board members agreed to hold a meeting Monday at 5 p.m. to make a decision on the features for the amphitheater. Both meetings will be held at the Portland Fire Station, 1616 N. Franklin St.

Park board officials have not yet decided on the amount of bonds to be issued. They are aiming to keep the project costs low enough that the city does not have to raise taxes.

The park feature discussed most by the board was the amphitheater. Board members are trying to decide whether they want to add a back wall, posts for lighting and sound and a cover to the stage. They discussed including a building to house restroom facilities, a ticket booth and a concession stand. This structure could be located at the top of the amphitheater.

Eric Rogers, executive director of Arts Place, kicked off the discussions on the amphitheater by naming some stipulations for the stage area. Arts Place plans to bring some of the entertainment to the amphitheater.

Rogers said he would like the stage to have some sort of permanent reflective feature, such as a back wall. He also suggested that at least two towers or posts be erected for lighting and speakers.

Board members agreed that they would like to see these items added to the stage, but Michael Krosschell, an architect for Schneider, did not have any sort of cost estimates for these features. The board asked Krosschell to discuss the matter with an acoustic engineer and get cost estimates to present to the board on Monday.

Park board members also discussed the possibility of adding some sort of roof or covering to the stage to protect the performers from the sun and rain.

Rogers said he thought the covering was a good idea, but any sort of event during rain would have to be halted because of the possibility of electrical shock. Krosschell also will get a cost estimate for the covering and present it to the board on Monday.

Rogers added that he would like adequate restroom facilities, a concession stand and a ticket booth for the amphitheater. Board members discussed the possibility of having all three in one building. They did not vote on the matter.

Board members also did not make a firm decision on seating for the amphitheater. They discussed terracing the entire seating area, terracing just the top part of the seating area, renting short lawn chairs to the public for events and adding three rows of stone wall seating near the stage of the amphitheater.

Entertainment for kids also was discussed Tuesday.

A playground area is planned near the center of the park. Board members agreed to put a fence around the playground area to prevent children from running from the playground, into the pond.

A disc golf course is planned in a flood plain located near the Salamonie River. The idea for a disc golf course was first proposed to the board in 2007 by Brett Resler. He has not contacted the board since.

Board member Shauna Runkle said she will contact Resler and see if he still wants the course in the park.

With some of the decisions made by the board on Tuesday, the cost of this phase of the park project is now estimated at $1.35 million.

In a related matter, Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said his employees are having trouble mowing the paths of the labyrinth - a stone-lined circular path designed as a place for reflection and medication.

He said a push mower doesn't fit in the paths, so employees must use a hand-held trimmer.

Harker said this morning that not enough people walk in the labyrinth, so the grass continues to grow. He said the city has been trimming the labyrinth since it was created last summer, in memory of Anita Young. Those who proposed the labyrinth suggested that local service organizations help with maintenance. So far, the city has handled all of the maintenance for the labyrinth, Harker said.

He suggested Tuesday that the paths be made wider so city crews could easily mow.[[In-content Ad]]