City seeks $500,000 grant to fund Robe-Ann Park improvements

What could the City of Greencastle do if it had $1 million to play with at Robe-Ann Park?

How about revise the road system? Reconfigure traffic flow. And create a festival plaza in the area between the softball diamond and shelterhouse No. 1 atop the hill overlooking the bandshell.

Those are some of the main ideas included in the city’s proposal for a $500,000 grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant offered by the State of Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a 50 percent matching program, which means the city will have to match the $500,000 grant with $500,000 in local funds.

That part was planned for in the 2019 bond issue to repair the pool. The bond issue had designated funding for Robe-Ann Park improvements if the funds were not needed to complete the pool renovation work.

“When we sold the bonds, we were hoping to have $500,000 to do improvements at Robe-Ann Park,” Mayor Bill Dory noted during a special Park Board session Thursday night.

And that is pretty much what the city will have for the proposed improvements.

City Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar said $470,000 currently remains on the bond. She suggested that the remaining $30,000 toward the match could come from the city’s share of riverboat gambling revenue or some other source.

The Greencastle Board of Park Commissioners is submitting an application requesting LWCF program funds for the further development of the 35-acre Robe-Ann Park. The plan will address the flow of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and ADA concerns through a redesign of the roadways, sidewalks, access routes, designated parking lots and central restrooms. Two new picnic shelters, a basketball court, bocce ball courts, permanent cornhole boards and the creation of a festival plaza are planned.

Park Director Rod Weinschenk enumerated 13 improvement areas for those in attendance at City Hall, including Park Board President Cathy Merrell and board members Tim Trigg, Pete Meyer and Joanna Muncie. The proposed projects include:

-- 1. Reconnecting the roadway to create a circular drive, estimated $140,000.

Connecting the north parking lot to the west circular drive and creating a larger circle drive would make it easier for patrons to access the different amenities located throughout the park, as well as providing a more convenient arrangement for the holiday lights display, as set up last winter. “Not only would a reconnection of the two drives be beneficial for a holiday display, it will also define an easier travel route from east to west through Robe-Ann Park,” Weinschenk noted.

-- 2. Complete road improvements, including access routes, drainage, curbs and ADA ramp, estimated at $106,300.

Almost all the park roadways are asphalt only and do not include curb, gutter, sidewalks or ADA ramps. The improvements will also help tackle some of the storm water drainage issues with curb and gutter directing excess water to storm drains.

-- 3. Reconfigure parking area north of the ballfield, estimated $282,200.

The current parking area serving that busy section of the park includes two-way traffic with exit to the east. The new lot will consolidate and redefine parking, traffic and access routes to adjacent amenities. Two-way traffic can either exit east or one-way from the west end. Should eliminate need for a shared basketball court/parking lot and allow a dedicated basketball court for park patrons to enjoy.

-- 4. Expansion or reconfiguration of parking areas adjacent to the pool and tennis/pickleball courts, estimated $200,200.

The east entrance is currently narrow, only 18-feet wide, and although it allows for two-way traffic, it is tight. Planned improvements include moving the east entrance off Wood Street to the south to allow two-way traffic in and out of the park, relocating one of the limestone pillars at the entry so they continue to border the entrance, reconstruct the wooden gates, widen the road for two-way traffic and lay in ADA access routes to the tennis and pickleball courts from the north parking lot.

-- 5. Create festival plaza near shelterhouse No. 1, estimated $255,000.

A festival area for various vendors setting up at events will be created and located in the proposed parking area between the shelter and the softball field/central restrooms. When the drive and parking area is closed with barricades, traffic may still be able to travel the newly proposed circle drive around the park.

-- 6. Address ADA compliance issues for shelters 1 and 5 and the ballfield, estimated $7,500.

In the proposal, an access route from the north parking lot will be created, linking the concession stand, scorer’s booth and each of the dugouts and bleachers.

-- 7. Electrical capacity for holiday lights and future lighting system in the park, estimated $15,000.

“In preparation for the future expansion of the holiday lights event, we would like to increase the electrical capacity through the placement of underground conduit,” Weinschenk said, adding however, that a proposed decorative lighting project in the park, using lamp posts donated to the park by DePauw University, cannot be done within this project.

-- 8. Add bocce ball courts with ADA parking and access route, estimated $13,533.

Because the two courts would be new to the recreation inventory, Weinschenk said, “they will provide an alternative to the high-active sports facilities located in the park system.” They also will increase recreation options for area residents of all socio-economic levels, as it is a short walk from the Miller Asbury senior living facility.

-- 9. Central restroom upgrades and ADA compliance, estimated $49,459.

Constructed sometime prior to 1999, the central restrooms are in need of a facelift, including both interior renovations and exterior work. The existing drinking fountain will be replaced with a new combination fountain and water bottle filler.

-- 10. Permanent cornhole game boards, estimated $2,000.

To be set next to the highest-use park shelter, No. 5, north of the ballfield and west of the tennis courts.

-- 11. Alternative energy source amenities, estimated $3,500.

As part of interior restroom improvements, the plan is to install solar-powered ceiling vent fans to help eliminate humidity and help with a lower electrical cost within the park.

-- 12. Sidewalk and stair improvements from Bloomington Street, estimated $3,500.

The three-foot sidewalk along Bloomington Street will be replaced with an access route, which will connect to the sidewalk. The stairs will receive a good cleaning and a five-foot access route will be laid into the park.

-- 13. Addition of two small picnic structures next to playground, estimated $25,507.

Two new, one-table shelters are proposed for installation next to the Emerald Palace playground. Each would have a six-foot permanent picnic table designed with a canopy to provide a shaded seating area.

On a motion by Trigg, the Park Board unanimously passed a resolution to seek the maximum $500,000 in Land and Water Conservation Fund federal grant funding administered by the State of Indiana.

The Greencastle Board of Park Commissioners will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 2 at City Hall.