Park Board approves aquatic center events

With warm weather fast approaching, groups are already planning their summer events at the Greencastle Aquatic Center. The Greencastle Park Board approved two such requests at Wednesday's monthly meeting.

The board received a letter from Summer Enrichment Program executive director Gayle Hansen asking that 65 slots for morning swim lessons be reserved between June 6 and July 8. The enrichment program pays the fees for the children to take part in the lessons.

In turn, Hansen requested the children be admitted to afternoon swimming free of charge during the five weeks.

The board approved the request unanimously.

WREB account executive Tonya Sanders was also on hand to request three dates for the station to host pool parties. The events will be June 9, July 14 and Aug. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. each evening.

During the events, WREB will be playing over the speakers of the pool, and the entry fee will be only 94 cents. There will be organized games in and out of the pool, and the radio station will conduct live interviews on location. There is also the possibility of getting more partners for free refreshments and prize giveaways.

The board approved the measure 3-0.

Another special request to raise money for breast cancer research may also be on the docket for Robe-Ann Park. Rachel Romas and Jenny Bradshaw requested permission to host a "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" 5K run-walk on Halloween weekend.

Board members expressed interest, but worried it might conflict with the Halloween Fun Run, which takes place the same weekend. Parks Director Rod Weinschenk suggested the organizers contact Rebeckah Howard, who coordinates the Halloween run, and see if the two events can be done in conjunction.

"That'd be perfect," Bradshaw said.

The request was tabled until the May meeting.

Board members also passed a resolution approving the Parks Department's five-year master plan. The plan, which met with rave reviews from Greg Beilfuss of the IDNR Division of Outdoor Recreation, makes Greencastle Parks eligible for Land and Water Conservation Grant funds.

The board discussed a number of uses for which they might request the grant money. Weinschenk plans to prepare a grant proposal for the board's review in May.