HomeMy Public PortalAboutFebruary 2004 Master Plan Update Master Plan Update
February 2004
On In January 2004, the Park Board held two retreats where the Implementation Schedule in the
2003-2007 Master Plan was reviewed and revised. Due to budget constraints and the 2002
Property Tax Reassessment Issue (no cash draws from the County Assessor's Office due to a
delay in property reassessments.) the department, along with all other city departments, did
not have the cash available to implement several projects. Therefore several items scheduled
for 2003 were not accomplished and the board has included them in the attached new
Implementation Schedule. Even though the department's activities were curtailed due to
monetary restraints, the department was very active especially in the area of special interest
projects. These projects are described below:
People Pathways: In 2003, the City of Greencastle and the Greencastle Parks and Recreation
Department were awarded two grants. A Recreational Trails Grant was received for People
Pathways: Phase V (formerly known as Phase 2B), the Big Walnut Sports Park Loop.
Construction of this phase will begin in the Spring of 2004 to be completed by Fall of 2004. In
December 2003, an ISTEA/TEA 21 grant was awarded to the city for People Pathways: Phase
IV: The Health Link Trail,which will connect the campuses of Depauw University and
Putnam County Hospital. The Parks &Recreation Department and People Pathways
Committee are working to secure the matching funds needed for this project.
Ifeik Maple-Berry Park: The Maple-Berry Park property was purchased by the Parks & Recreation
Department in 2003 and public input sessions were held to assist in site planning the property.
The Board decided that the property will consist of passive green space with a small
playground on the eastern most section of property and a basketball court on the western end.
A recycling grant of$5,000 was obtained to assist in the purchase of the recycled plastic
playground equipment, park benches, picnic tables and trash receptacles. A phase 2
environmental study was conducted and discovered petroleum residual inside the perimeter
of the eastern portion of the property. The Parks & Recreation Department, in conjunction
with the city engineer,will be applying for a Brownfield Reclamation Grant through the
Indiana Development Finance Authority to pay for the clean-up of the property before
development.
Rokicki Community Park: In late 2003, the City Council gave permission to the Parks &
Recreation Department to develop a park on 40 acres of city property currently zoned for light
industrial use. The city,with permission from the family, has named the park Rokicki
Community Park in honor of Michael Rokicki, a councilman and community leader who passed
away in August 2003. The Parks & Recreation Deparmtent hired Gove Associates to site plan
the facility and held a public input session as the first step in that process. Currently, the
acreage is mostly trees and grassland. The department plans on developing foot trails
throughout the natural landscape with a 10-foot asphalt People Pathway surrounding the edge
of the property. An ADA Accessible playground will be installed along with a community
1111114 room building. The property will also contain the "Yard Waste Site", which will serve as a
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drop off point for leaves, and 3 acres have been set aside for a future fire department sub-
station. ly
The timeline for development of this park is 5 to 7 years.
Big Walnut Sports Park: Late in the Fall of 2003, the Board of Park Commissioners signed a
maintenance agreement with Big Walnut Sports Park, allowing the Parks &Recreation
Department to take over day-to-day maintenance of the facility. This will serve as a first step
in the eventual ownership of the facility by the City of Greencastle. The maintenance
agreement took effect January 1, 2004. The Department plans on using the gift of the property
as a match for future grant applications.
In 2003, the Board of Park Commissioners also underwent changes with the resignation of
Mace Terry, Board President, and the appointment of Dr. John Hennette to complete his term.
The list and new officers for the Greencastle Board of Park Commissioners, for 2004, are:
Leslie Hanson, President
Tim Trigg,Vice President
Becky Harlan, Secretary
Dr.John Hennette, Member
Russ Evans, City Council Liaison
Margot Payne, Ex Officio Member -Putnam County Library
Jeff McCall, Ex Officio Member - Greencastle Community Schools
The Board is excited about the upcoming year and is enthusiastic about the city's support of its
mission statement.