Council voices support for park concept

Plans for a downtown park were met with a mostly positive response.

Portland City Council on Monday informally gave Portland Park Board the go-ahead to continue working toward a “social park” on the empty lot at the southwest corner of Main and Commerce streets.

Park board president Brian Ison presented the park concept for 201 through 205 W. Main St. to Portland City Council. (The lot is the former site of the Bailey Building, which was demolished late last year.)

He noted that the concept includes a fire pit, cornhole courts, lighting, general seating, vegetation and open space. (A restroom was also considered but is not part of the initial plan.) The committee that originally worked on the concept — it has now been turned over to the park board — was looking at a concrete base and pavers in order to keep the new park as low-maintenance as possible. The concept also calls for fencing in the area, though it would remain open 24/7. The plans also call for a gravel area in which food trucks could potentially set up during events.

Ison presented an initial cost estimate of $200,000 to $250,000 and added that the park board would need additional annual funding for maintenance.

Council members asked several questions, with Dave Golden addressing the need for security cameras. Ison said those have been discussed.

Ron May said he’s not a fan of the concrete and gravel — he would prefer grass — or the cornhole courts.

Ison and others involved in the initial plan noted that it is a concept only and that individual features may change.

“I think the concept is great — the concept of a place that can be multi-purposed but a place that people can use and go to and be more attractive than the empty lot that’s there now,” said council president Kent McClung.

“We’re looking at can we add a little bit of life to that side of downtown,” said Ison. “We know that there’s a need.”

There was no formal vote, but council members in attendance agreed that the park board should move forward with looking for grant opportunities to fund such a project. Ison said he intends to spend about a year researching funding options and continuing to develop the concept and then return to council with more information in late 2025.

Council members Matt Goldsworthy, Mike Aker, Dave Golden, Ashley Hilfiker, McClung and May, absent Michele Brewster, also discussed the city’s financial support of Jay County Development Corporation. Golden suggested that the city provide is $50,000 for 2025 up front in order to put the organization in a better position as it seeks to hire its next executive director.

Golden, McClung and Goldsworthy spoke in strong support of JCDC, with Golden pushing for the funds to be released to the organization in January. Mayor Jeff Westlake raised questions about the ability of council members and the public to review JCDC expenditures. McClung responded, noting that the mayor sits on the JCDC board and that it goes through an annual audit.

There was no motion made regarding the JCDC funding, with Golden asking that the issue be placed on the agenda for the council’s Jan. 6 meeting.

In other business, council:

•Approved the following: a change to the fire department’s standard operating procedure to adjust tracking of part-time help on runs from a percentage to hourly; additional appropriations as needed to keep fund year-end balances positive.

•Heard a short presentation from Gary Maitlen regarding Freeman Scout Complex after Ron May made a $100 donation. He noted that the facility has made various upgrades over the last year and a half, including making it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

•Addressing the ongoing Meridian Street (U.S. 27) project, Westlake said it’s been difficult to pin down an answer on how long it will be until traffic signals are reinstalled but that it will likely take several more weeks. He also said Indiana Department of Transportation, which is in charge of maintaining the U.S. highway, informed him that changes to parking are related to ADA compliance. He noted that changes were made to address an issue of water collecting in front of John Jay Center for Learning.

•Heard a concern from Aker, passed on from a resident, regarding the condition of Ship Street between High and Walnut streets.

•Wished everyone a merry Christmas.