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Park’s first Festival of Lights a rousing success, officials say
The lights are out, the party’s over, and any holiday snow we had is long gone.
But looking back, Greencastle Park Department officials see nothing but good things about their first venture into the Festival of Lights.
Of course, volunteers from the Greencastle Civic League did much of the heavy lifting, providing more than 25,000 lights and workers to help put them up ... and take them down, which they did this past weekend.
“It turned out to be a great project,” Park Board President Tim Trigg offered at the board’s January meeting at City Hall.
Park Director Rod Weinschenk noted that first and foremost, he wanted to thank the Civic League and President Kate Knaul for helping a project the board has dreamed about for several years come to fruition in the midst of a pandemic.
“We had a lot of traffic all season long,” Weinschenk said of the display on the west side of Robe-Ann Park. “I think we only had to close the gates once because of snow.”
The park director also noted that he has received numerous compliments along with several “thank-yous for brightening up out year.”
Board member Cathy Merrell asked if the park displays had suffered any vandalism.
“Nothing big,” Weinschenk said, noting that a blow-up snowman “appears to have been assaulted” and ended up with a large gash down his back.
The only other thing that came to mind, Weinschenk said, was that one of the candy cane displays “walked off.”
But it didn’t go far, however, as a resident found it three blocks away and returned it to the park.
“I’m glad to hear that it (vandalism) was very minimal,” Merrell said. “That’s one of the things we were worried about.”
Weinschenk noted that he has already received a donation to further the display next year -- a couple of five-foot inflatable Christmas puppies.
Preliminary plans for the 2021-22 holiday season call for decorations to be installed throughout the weeks before and following Thanksgiving with Festival of Lights dates set for Dec. 3 through Jan. 6.
Meanwhile, City Councilman Jake Widner, who is Council liaison to the Park Department, asked about the “dirty, mucky water” that stands in the bottom of the city pool.
“Is that OK?“ he asked.
“Yes, you’re looking at dirty, mucky water and leaves,” Weinschenk said.
He explained that the pool was built below the water level, which is the main reason some water is kept in the bottom of the pool throughout the off-season to assure that the pool is securely held in the ground.
“Yes, it doesn’t look very good,” Weinschenk added, “but that’s how we need to keep it.
“It means more elbow grease in the spring and super-chlorination before the season.”
Weinschenk said he assumes “we’re going to have a pool season this spring, and we’ll hold SPARK and have the Fourth of July and National Night Out. We’re going to plan on it and hope that we can do it.”
“That’s the only thing you can do,” board President Trigg responded.
In other business, the Park Board:
-- Acknowledged the resignation of longtime board member John Hennette, who is leaving the group after 18 years. Hennette came on the Park Board mid-year 2003, replacing Becky Harlan.
-- Heard Weinschenk report that projects at Big Walnut Sports Park have been put on hold until the weather is warmer. Feutz Construction Co. is working on improvements to the Greencastle Youth Baseball parking lot and also to the fencing at the soccer fields. Weinschenk said he hopes the parking lot work is done by April 1, when the youth baseball season begins.
-- Heard that work to repair dugouts at the Big Walnut Sports Park baseball field have gone out to bid. “Hopefully it’s third time the charm,” Mayor Bill Dory noted, alluding to two unsuccessful attempts to get contractors interested in undertaking the project.
-- Heard Weinschenk report that the Park Department will not be doing the annual Brickmania Birthday Bash at the Putnam County Museum this year. The event drew more than 300 people last year as a fundraiser for the food pantry. The museum has been limiting all events and functions to 15 people. “We’re trying to hold smaller programs with social distancing,” Weinschenk said of current events. “We’re taking it one month at a time.”
-- Learned that the P & E Model Railway will remain on display at the museum through mid-February. The club invites visitors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Feb. 20.
-- Heard that Winnie the Pooh Day will be celebrated with a free event 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14 at the museum.
Joining Trigg, Hennette and Merrell for the January meeting was Park Board member Joanna Muncie, via Zoom. In addition to Weinschenk, Mayor Dory and Councilman Widner, Park Maintenance Director David Bault was also in attendance.
The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3 at City Hall.