City plans $1.8 million improvements to pool, park

Hoping to make the Greencastle Aquatic Center “the place to be” next summer, the Park Board took the first step toward making that happen Thursday night.

Unanimously passing Resolution 2019-1, city officials declared their intent to issue $1.8 million in bonds to finance renovations at the city pool and within Robe-Ann Park.

The bond issue, for which a public hearing has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at City Hall, would fund several projects at the aquatic center, including:

• Bathhouse renovation, including refurbishment of the existing facility, expansion to include new family changing rooms and a new entry area.

• Installation of a new two-flume water slide, a project that includes removal of the existing water slide.

• Installation of a new drop-type water slide in the diving well.

• Installation of children’s water play structures in the zero-depth end of the pool.

• Creation of a reserve for pool equipment replacement for upcoming pump and filter replacements (to be funded by EDIT dollar allocations).

The bond issue would also help fund projects within Robe-Ann Park, including:

• Repairing sidewalks and making miscellaneous ADA improvements.

• Road improvements and construction of a road link, including construction of 80 feet of new road, resurfacing and curb installation.

• Development of an event space near shelterhouse No. 1 (on the hillside overlooking the bandshell), including reconstruction and/or realignment of the existing road for parking and use of the area for special events.

• Expansion and reconfiguration of the pool and tennis court parking, including landscaping.

When the Greencastle City Council meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 it will consider a resolution approving the bonds, which would then set in motion a timetable that would result in a Nov. 20 bond sale and a Dec. 6 closing.

With other city bonds coming off the books, Mayor Bill Dory said the pool bonds likely would not raise the tax rate.

The timetable should allow the city to complete modifications to the pool before the start of the 2020 swim season. The pool has been experiencing declining revenues over the past few years.

Brian Pohlar of HWC Engineering, which has been awarded the design contract for the improvement project, said the work would likely be bid out in December and January, noting that it will not change the footprint of the current aquatic center.

Overall, the project would be done in two phases with work on the bathhouse expected following the end of the 2020 season and be ready in time for the 2021 season.

The modifications, Pohlar said, “will make it more of an aquatic center than a pool.”

City Attorney Laurie Hardwick stressed that city officials felt it was “important to do some of the modifications this year to bring excitement to the pool.”

Park Director Rod Weinschenk wholeheartedly agreed, adding that “with what we’ve talked about tonight, the aquatic center is going to be the place to hang out.”

In other pool-related matters, Weinschenk reported that American Clean and Seal has stripped the paint from the pool basin and was expected to start painting this week.

Meanwhile, Reuhl Recreation installed a new pool shade structure on the deck this past week. It needs to be kept up for 10 days to adequately stretch out the material before it is taken down and stored for the winter.

In other business, the Park Board:

• Approved making this past Saturday as the last day for the splash park with cooler temperatures arriving. The splash park now will be shut off and winterized.

• Heard a brief update on work at the tennis and pickleball courts. McCullough Construction has completed the under drainage, Weinschenk said, and is now awaiting subcontractors for the paving work.

• Learned that four trees – three ash and a sycamore – will be removed from Robe-Ann Park as part of a combined city project in which trees will also be removed at Forest Hill Cemetery and for the Department of Public Works. The trees at the park are expected to be removed before winter since they pose a danger to park structures, particularly an ash and the sycamore tree, which are in close proximity to the pool and splash park.

• Heard Weinschenk announce that registration forms for the youth basketball and My First Shot programs will be sent home with students this week.

• Heard Mitch and Ben Staggers detail a Racing Through Deployment 5K scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 at the same time their father, Jim Staggers, will be doing a 5K while on deployment in Kuwait. Cost of the event is $20 for adults and $15 for youth. The 5K begins and ends at Sherwood Christian Church. The Park Board gave its permission to use segments of People Pathways for the event.

Joining Weinschenk for the meeting were Park Board President Tim Trigg, John Hennette, Cathy Merrell and Joanna Muncie, along with Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger and ex officio board member Bethany Labhart.

The next monthly meeting of the Park Board is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at City Hall.