Park work approved, projects discussed

A couple of small projects moved forward.

Some larger ones are being considered.

Portland Park Board approved some repairs for Portland Water Park during its meeting Monday and discussed various projects as possibilities moving forward.

Street and parks department superintendent Matt Shauver explained to the board that some tile will need to be repaired at the water park. The issue was identified during an annual inspection.

“This is why they come,” Shauver said. “This is why we bring them there. Because if we don’t do anything at all, water continues to get in there over winter time. It freezes and busts and we have a mess when it comes to opening time.”

He noted that there have been no issues with new tile that was installed in 2022.

Shauver also shared an issue with the pool’s grates, saying he was notified that they are not compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. Those grates have been removed.

Park board members Brian Ison, Shauna Runkle and Jennifer Weitzel, absent Michael Brewster and John McFarland, awarded a $5,983.38 contract to replace the grates to JTR Pools of Indianapolis and a $3,500 contract to Blakley's of Indianapolis for the tile work.

The board discussed a variety of other projects:

•A consulting proposal from Framework Planning and Design of Zionsville regarding Milton Miller Park. It would involve creating a project-based map and a site master plan, identifying proposed programs, reviewing infrastructure, projecting costs and a workshop with the park board. Additional items could include workshops with the public and artist’s renderings of proposed park upgrades. The cost would range from $8,000 to $15,000 depending on the scope.

•Replacement or repair of the mesh covering over the top platform of the slides, umbrellas and lily pads at Portland Water Park. Shauver said he has gotten initial quotes, including from Mainstream Furniture and Upholstery of Portland. He said he hopes to get the mesh covering and an umbrella completed this winter and to work on additional improvements gradually.

•Asphalt improvements at various park facilities. Ison noted that estimates for the work range from $20,000 for the basketball court at Milton Miller Park to $70,000 for the walking trail at Hudson Family Park to $76,000 for both parking lots at Portland Memorial Park.

•New playground equipment at Haynes Park. Board members asked Shauver to get an updated quote for the equipment.

•Having trees trimmed and inspected at Haynes Park. Shauver presented a quote of $15,575 from Fifer Services.

The board took no action on any of those options but discussed potential funding sources. Ison noted that he asked for increases in park funding in the city’s 2025 budget. Portland City Council is scheduled to vote on budget adoption at its Oct. 7 meeting.

In other business, the board:

•Heard an update from parks manager Ronnie Reynolds that fountains at Hudson Family Park have been repaired (the cost was covered by insurance) and staff has been working on tree trimming, dirt work for new lights around the path at Hudson Family Park, winterizing Portland Water Park and placing new pea gravel around playground equipment.

•Received an update from Ison regarding Portland Water Park, indicating that income was down $2,874 for admissions from 2023 and $1,433 for concessions. Runkle noted that while revenue was down, the park board and staff have worked to keep expenses under control. “So even though our income was down a little bit, our loss was down,” she said. “At the end of the day, it was better than last year.”