Sports Park pipeline leak fixed; splash park closed for season

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

While the splash park at Robe-Ann Park was being shut down for the season, park officials feared a gasoline pipeline through Big Walnut Sports Park might create its own splash pad at the facility on Greencastle’s East Side.

Park Director Rod Weinschenk told the Greencastle Park Board Monday night that he got a call from the Water Department one recent night about 9:15, advising him that the eight-inch Marathon gasoline pipeline had sprung a leak at the sports park.

“They hadn’t used it (the pipeline) for three years,” Weinschenk said. “They wanted to re-energize it, so they filled it with a green liquid. Luckily this wasn’t a petroleum product but just colored liquid.

“When they said the pipeline had a leak, I thought it would be shooting straight up,” the park director added, “because I’ve seen those before.”

But rather than a geyser spewing liquid into the air, the leak actual shot the liquid straight down into a drainage tile.

That’s what made finding it so difficult.

Marathon officials had been looking for the leak for a week, Weinschenk said, using planes to fly the line and even walking the entire pipeline between Amo and Greencastle before they found what he characterized as “a small leak” on park property.

The pipeline was cracked on the bottom, he said, which spilled the green liquid into the drainage tile and made finding the actual source a chore.

“They dug up 400 feet looking for it,” Weinschenk said, only to discover that the leak was right there where the green liquid was initially spotted pooling up.

A Marathon work crew has repaired the leak and reseeded the ground above the pipeline. And during some down time workmen even offered to help with any labor needed at the sports park. Weinschenk took advantage of that, he said, having them dig “an extra ditch that will hopefully drain the parking area that serves the Putnam County Girls Slow-Pitch Softball Program.”

With the onset of fall, a sign informs visitors of the closure of the Bob York Splash Park.
Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE

Meanwhile, in a less intensive labor matter, the Bob York Memorial Splash Park will be winterized by Spear Corp., Weinschenk said, after the Park Board gave him permission to shut it down for the season.

“At this point we’re no longer getting (consistent) 70-degree weather,” the park director said in getting approval for the closing.

In a related matter, Weinschenk also reported receiving word from Emily Knuth of the Greencastle Civic League that the organization is planning to donate $5,000 to provide additional benches and trash receptacles at the splash park.

Four additional benches (red with black legs) have been ordered, he said, with two additional trash receptacles and four domed lids also planned.

In other business, the Park Board:

-- Learned that the improvement project at shelterhouse No. 5 has been completed by Criss and Hutcheson general contractors with the support legs reset in concrete and Y-bracing added. An anchor box was also added to accommodate the electrical panel at the shelterhouse. A windstorm last month damaged the shelterhouse, and it was later discovered that some of the support legs were rotted out.

-- Heard that Three Kings Electric will tackle improvements to the electrical service at the tennis and pickleball courts. Lighting will be on a player-activated timer that can be turned on at 4 p.m. but will shut off at 10 pm.

-- Approved use of the People Pathways Big Walnut Sports Park border trail for the inaugural Nolan’s Ninjas 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov. 5. That came at the request of Ashley Lytle, mother of Nolan O’Hair, a seven-year-old Putnam County boy diagnosed with autism before his third birthday. Proceeds from the 5K will raise funds toward the training of a service dog for Nolan.

-- Heard that 37 throwers participated in the recent second annual Glow Throw Disc Golf Tournament. Weinschenk represented the Park Department and captured the Grandmaster Division (50 and older) title with a come-from-behind two-round total of 132.

-- Appointed board members Tim Trigg and John Hennette to a committee to review the 2017 Big Walnut Sports Park youth league usage agreements.

-- Heard that three Halloween-related programs are scheduled for October: How to Decorate the Great Pumpkin, Thursday, Oct. 20; Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest, Saturday, Oct. 29; and the Hunt for the Great Pumpkin Saturday, Oct. 29. The latter will be an Easter-egg-hunt-style program for children in grades 6-8 who will look for 3,000 Halloween-colored eggs at Robe-Ann Park. Registration forms for all the events are available at City Hall, 1 N. Locust St., or in the park office.

Park Board members Trigg and Hennette were joined at City Hall for the October meeting -- which was postponed by the lack of a quorum Oct. 6 -- by board President Beva Miller, ex-officio member Wayne Lewis and Mayor Bill Dory. Board member Cathy Merrell was absent.

The Park Board’s next regular session is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at City Hall.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: