Some input given on city parks (11/02/05)

The public was invited to attend Tuesday’s Portland Park Board meeting to give input on a plan for the future of the city’s park system, but only a handful of community members showed up.

Although city officials and members of the park board did most of the talking, the three Jay County High School students and one of the community members, gave suggestions for what they would like to see added to the city’s parks. One of the local residents left shortly after the meeting began.

Among the suggestions were: a place to fish, tennis courts, better basketball courts, new playground equipment, a trail that connects all of the parks and an ice-skating rink.

After the suggestions were made, city officials and board members discussed the positives and negatives of each of the city’s five parks and how the city’s growth could affect the parks.

The public hearing was held because the Schneider Corporation is helping city officials create a new five-year master plan for the park system at a cost of $8,000.

The city needs a new master plan because the old one is about to expire. The new plan will last until 2010. It will include the city’s vision for parks in the next five years, planned improvements and expected maintenance for parks. An updated plan could increase the city’s chances of getting federal and state funding for future projects, said Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for Schneider. Many grants require an updated five-year plan.

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Phil Metzger, manager of business development for Schneider, said city officials should prepare for how the planned widening of Ind. 67, (Votaw Street in the city), could affect Haynes Park.

The park, located at Middle and Votaw streets across from Jay County Hospital and near the new Wal-Mart SuperCenter, could be eligible for funding for improvements through the Indiana Department of Transportation if it is affected by the street widening, he said.

City councilman Jim Sanders, who attended the meeting as an audience member, said once the new SuperCenter opens, the park probably will be busier because Wal-Mart employees will go there during lunch breaks. The new department/grocery store is being constructed adjacent to the park.

Albrecht said if the street widening includes the installation of a stop light at the intersection of Industrial Park Drive and Votaw Streets, a crosswalk possibly could be created for Wal-Mart employees and others to safely cross Votaw Street to access Haynes Park.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said some of the parks need more parking. Also, the playground equipment of at least two parks needs to be replaced.

Albrecht said a rough draft of the park system plan has to be turned in to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources by mid-January, and the final draft will be due sometime in May.

She recommended that city officials put together a steering committee made up of people of all ages and backgrounds to come up with ideas for the future of the park system. Albrecht would like the committee to be formed within a month.[[In-content Ad]]