July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Park to get more frontage (09/13/06)
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Hudson Family Park is growing.
A city official announced Tuesday that a local investment banker who donated the original 30 acres for the park now plans to give more land for the project, which is currently being developed.
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said Barry Hudson and his wife Elizabeth have acquired and plan to donate to the city two houses and the lots they set on.
The homes and land are located on the east side of Wayne Street, between Union and Third streets, near the park entrance.
Barry Hudson said this morning that each of the lots is a little more than an acre in size. Hudson said he decided to donate the land and the two-story houses because the homes were blocking the view of the park from Wayne Street.
"Great news," Portland Park Board president Neil Medler said at Tuesday's meeting. "It's really an enhancement" to the park.
Hosier suggested the houses be razed after the city gets possession. The Portland Board of Works would have to select a quote to tear down the houses.
Hudson said once the houses are razed, the Portland Pool, the baseball diamonds and Weiler-Wilson Park can be viewed from Wayne Street and Union Street.
"This will clear that up," he said.
In a related matter, Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for The Schneider Corporation, announced that the schedule for the park construction has been changed.
Albrecht said the landscaping around the park entrance sign, in the entrance area and near the Arch Bridge sculpture is expected to begin this fall or winter as part of phase II.
Also planned for this fall or winter is adding wording to the park sign which says "City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department", the creation of a small parking area and the creation of a drive from the park entrance to that parking.
"The goal ... is to keep the momentum going," said Albrecht. Also, it would be nice to give people a place to park so they can using the undeveloped space, she said.
Bid letting for the drive and parking lot should begin in October, Albrecht said.
Hosier said this morning that the landscaping work was included in a bid submitted in September 2005 by Limestone Products Inc., Portland, for construction of the park entrance. That bid included $22,000 for the landscaping work for the park entrance.
The work would be done by Cook's Nursery and Trim, Portland, Hosier said.
City employees may be utilized for some of the landscaping work, he said.
The landscaping for the park will include the planting of red maple and honey locust trees, day lilies and fountain grass, Albrecht said. Flower beds will be created and bulbs planted.
Albrecht declined to give a total cost estimate for the drive, sign addition and parking lot.
Also Tuesday, Albrecht told the board an environmental review for the Hudson Family Park's trail system has been submitted to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, officials with the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Native American groups and others. This review contains the layout of the trail system. The purpose of the review process is for the groups to determine if the trail system will be detrimental to the environment.
The groups have had the information for about a month. The comments on the project should all be received in about five months, she said. The review process is required for this project because it is being funded by a TE grant administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The creation of the trail system is expected to begin in July or August of 2007, Albrecht said.
In other business, Jennifer Snow, manager of the Portland Pool, gave a report on pool finances for the summer season.
The total income for the pool was $23,901, which includes money from concession stand sales.
Total profit this year was about $2,500 more than last year, she said after the meeting. Snow said she did not know why the pool was more profitable this year.
In a related matter, Snow suggested some changes to the baby pool area.
One of the most common complaints she has received is that there is not enough seating for the adults. Snow said a solution might be to eliminate one end of the fencing around the pool. This would extend the baby pool area through the sun deck area. The board took no action on this request.
Snow also said some of the older pool visitors have asked if temporary steps or a ramp could be purchased to make it easier for them to enter and exit the pools. Medler asked Snow to get some prices on steps and ramps.[[In-content Ad]]
A city official announced Tuesday that a local investment banker who donated the original 30 acres for the park now plans to give more land for the project, which is currently being developed.
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said Barry Hudson and his wife Elizabeth have acquired and plan to donate to the city two houses and the lots they set on.
The homes and land are located on the east side of Wayne Street, between Union and Third streets, near the park entrance.
Barry Hudson said this morning that each of the lots is a little more than an acre in size. Hudson said he decided to donate the land and the two-story houses because the homes were blocking the view of the park from Wayne Street.
"Great news," Portland Park Board president Neil Medler said at Tuesday's meeting. "It's really an enhancement" to the park.
Hosier suggested the houses be razed after the city gets possession. The Portland Board of Works would have to select a quote to tear down the houses.
Hudson said once the houses are razed, the Portland Pool, the baseball diamonds and Weiler-Wilson Park can be viewed from Wayne Street and Union Street.
"This will clear that up," he said.
In a related matter, Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for The Schneider Corporation, announced that the schedule for the park construction has been changed.
Albrecht said the landscaping around the park entrance sign, in the entrance area and near the Arch Bridge sculpture is expected to begin this fall or winter as part of phase II.
Also planned for this fall or winter is adding wording to the park sign which says "City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department", the creation of a small parking area and the creation of a drive from the park entrance to that parking.
"The goal ... is to keep the momentum going," said Albrecht. Also, it would be nice to give people a place to park so they can using the undeveloped space, she said.
Bid letting for the drive and parking lot should begin in October, Albrecht said.
Hosier said this morning that the landscaping work was included in a bid submitted in September 2005 by Limestone Products Inc., Portland, for construction of the park entrance. That bid included $22,000 for the landscaping work for the park entrance.
The work would be done by Cook's Nursery and Trim, Portland, Hosier said.
City employees may be utilized for some of the landscaping work, he said.
The landscaping for the park will include the planting of red maple and honey locust trees, day lilies and fountain grass, Albrecht said. Flower beds will be created and bulbs planted.
Albrecht declined to give a total cost estimate for the drive, sign addition and parking lot.
Also Tuesday, Albrecht told the board an environmental review for the Hudson Family Park's trail system has been submitted to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, officials with the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Native American groups and others. This review contains the layout of the trail system. The purpose of the review process is for the groups to determine if the trail system will be detrimental to the environment.
The groups have had the information for about a month. The comments on the project should all be received in about five months, she said. The review process is required for this project because it is being funded by a TE grant administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The creation of the trail system is expected to begin in July or August of 2007, Albrecht said.
In other business, Jennifer Snow, manager of the Portland Pool, gave a report on pool finances for the summer season.
The total income for the pool was $23,901, which includes money from concession stand sales.
Total profit this year was about $2,500 more than last year, she said after the meeting. Snow said she did not know why the pool was more profitable this year.
In a related matter, Snow suggested some changes to the baby pool area.
One of the most common complaints she has received is that there is not enough seating for the adults. Snow said a solution might be to eliminate one end of the fencing around the pool. This would extend the baby pool area through the sun deck area. The board took no action on this request.
Snow also said some of the older pool visitors have asked if temporary steps or a ramp could be purchased to make it easier for them to enter and exit the pools. Medler asked Snow to get some prices on steps and ramps.[[In-content Ad]]
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