Water park off to strong start

Though the city’s newest facility got a mostly positive report, a Portland resident brought up concerns with another.
Portland Park Board learned Tuesday evening Portland Water Park did well in its first few days after opening May 28.
Water park manager Missy Bader reported revenue collected, excluding the pre-sale tickets, was $32,578. Total concession stand money was $5,415 before taxes.
Bader also noted many visitors from areas outside Jay County, including Fort Wayne, Gas City and Parker City, have visited the water park.
While attendance has been strong, she also noted that the facility has an issue with standing water in the restrooms because water is not making it to the drains.
“It’s ponding bad,” she said. “We take hoses in there every night. We spent 15 to 20 minutes with the other pool but we’re spending at least an hour daily.”
Street and parks superintendent Ryan Myers said it sounds like there are some grading issues with the floors. He said he will examine the problem and address it with water park construction contractor RL Turner. He also said he plans to ask the contractor about getting additional floor mats for the restrooms because the floors are slippery.
The board also heard concerns about Hudson Family Park from former banker Barry Hudson, who donated the land for the facility.
Hudson suggested that the board should take the time to create a pre-approved budget of $20,000 to $25,000 for programming at the park’s amphitheater. He told the board that the city offered no support for programming at the amphitheater in 2015, $1,250 in 2014, $10,000 in 2013 and nothing in 2012.
He asked how cities like Dunkirk have a specific program for such funding.
Board members Donald Gillespie and Rod Ashman responded that Dunkirk receives funds through outside money the “Dunkirk Beautification Committee.” Gillespie, who was taking part in his final board meeting after announcing his resignation last month, said the board should to find a way to form a non-profit group that could raise money for such programming through The Portland Foundation and other sources.
Hudson said he thought the board would be the one to take initiative to have concerts and programs in the park. Ashman noted that the board isn’t responsible for bookings but governs and oversees the parks.
In other business, the board — Chris Compton, Shauna Runkle, Gillespie and Ashman, absent Kristi Betts:
•Learned from Myers that construction of the new restroom at Portland Memorial Park is progressing. The structure walls should be up today, and roofing should begin next week.
He also said new lights were installed at the Haynes Park pavilion after someone busted broke them. A broken sink was also replaced at Hudson Family Park.
•Approved providing $500 to Jay County Music Foundation for each concert it hosts at Hudson Family Park Amphitheater during the summer. Members of the foundation presented past and upcoming concert information and informed the board funding is currently provided by The Portland Foundation and the music foundation’s board of directors. They said the foundation essentially broke even on each of their first two concerts, both of which were held at Jay County High School, and was about $1,500 in the red on its most recent concert at Arts Place.
•Heard from John Moore of Jay County Trails Club that there is a link to a survey about local parks on the City of Portland’s website. So far, 44 surveys have been submitted. The link is available at http://www.thecityofportland.net/index.php?id=park.
•Appointed Gillespie to head the five-year park committee.
•Heard Ashman thanks Gillespie for his service on the board. Geesaman also thanked Bader and the street and parks department employees for their work at the water park.