Park Board begins process to update plan

A series of meetings over the next six months is expected to develop the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department’s new five-year master plan.

That much came out of a recent kickoff meeting with Park Department employees, Mayor Bill Dory and Park Board member Tim Trigg, Park Director Rod Weinschenk told the Park Board at its October meeting.

As a result, a goals and objectives review meeting will be included within the Nov. 2 Park Board meeting, while a public workshop will be a part of the Dec. 7 Park Board meeting at City Hall.

Weinschenk explained that the objective of the updated five-year master plan is twofold -- to plan for the future and to assure city eligibility for Indiana Department of Natural Resources grants.

The process includes a number of steps:

-- Public survey data collection through Oct. 25.

-- Facility mapping and data analysis through Oct. 25.

-- Public survey results and draft facility map, Oct. 30.

-- Goals and objects review meeting, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.

-- Big Walnut Sports Park stakeholder meeting, Nov. 2.

-- Draft Mini Park Plans, week of Nov. 13.

-- Public workshop, Dec. 7, 6 p.m.

-- Submit draft plan No. 1 to city and IDNR, week of Dec. 11.

-- Draft plan review meeting, Jan. 4.

-- Submit final draft plan to city, week of Jan. 15.

-- Final plan adoption, February or March Park Board meeting.

-- Final draft submitted to IDNR, one week after adoption.

The Park Board also:

-- Learned that the splash park is closed for the season for winterization.

-- Witnessed a demonstration of the new RecDesk registration system that is now taking youth basketball registrations online for players in grades 1-6 at gprd.recdesk.com.

-- Heard the Hunt for the Great Pumpkin event is scheduled for Oct. 28 for youngsters in grades 6-8.

-- Heard a family photo scavenger hunt in which hunters take selfie photos of themselves with items from a list is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 at Jaycee Park. Cost is $5 per team with a registration deadline of Oct. 17.

-- Gave permission to the Greencastle High School Key Club to use Robe-Ann Park for a portion of its Nov. 4 color run, a fundraiser in its third year.

The next regular session of the Greencastle Board of Park Commissioners is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 at City Hall.

Board President Beva Miller, John Hennette and Cathy Merrell were in attendance along with Park Director Weinschenk, Assistant Director Erin Ray, City Council liaison Steve Fields and ex-officio board member Wayne Lewis. Board member Tim Trigg was absent.