Revisions eyed for upgrades at Robe-Ann Park

A month after getting a look at proposed improvements to Robe-Ann Park, the Greencastle Park Board saw some revisions to those proposals at its March meeting.

The proposed improvements, as presented by Todd Burch of Civil Engineering Consultants, Greencastle, included fewer parking areas, although overall parking places would still increase by 100 under the plan, going from 173 to 273.

Burch noted that the revisions don’t “create a parking lot” out of green space. “We’re adding 100 spaces and not a lot of blacktop,” he added.

Park Board President Cathy Merrell, who in February voiced disdain for a proposed parking lot along the asphalt area that leads to the walk-in Anderson Street entrance, was happy that idea was scrapped and encouraged by other in-park parking additions Burch detailed.

“Extra parking will be huge for family things, softball games and Parkfest,” Merrell said.

The plan calls for south parking to be angled instead of parallel to add spaces on the south side of the baseball diamond and in front of Shelterhouse No. 2.

Stealing a line from Park Director Rod Weinschenk, Burch suggested that revised parking there will also “help market the skatepark and the shelter.”

Other parking additions, as proposed, include the redesigned administration building lot going from eight spaces to 22; northern bandshell road parking going from seven to 12; skatepark parking going from 18 to 21; northeastern main road parking going from six to 35; north main road parking (along the third base side of the ball diamond on past the restrooms) going from zero to 41 and a plaza area between the ball diamond and Shelter No. 1, an additional 41 spaces.

“We’re really just defining where the parking is,” Weinschenk noted, suggesting that the proposed parking sites are “areas that people park in already. We’re not taking away green space.”

President Merrell agreed.

“It’s been pretty willy-nilly. This defines it.”

One place where there will be no parking is the basketball courts adjacent to Shelterhouse No. 5. A new curb will prevent vehicles from pulling up onto the asphalt courts and parking there.

The area in front of the aquatic center -- Burch called it “a little wonky” -- will be revised under the plan to feature a drop-off area in front of the pool entrance, eliminating parking from directly in front of the main door.

Proposed improvements also include a sidewalk from the east side of the tennis courts to Wood Street and from the west edge of the tennis courts to the area in front of the Emerald Palace and tot play area.

Weinschenk said the proposed sidewalks will provide safer areas for park visitors to walk within Robe-Ann.

Meanwhile, in an effort to control traffic within the park, three raised crosswalks/speed bumps will be featured along the roadway that will reconnect the east and west sides of the park.

Additionally, a raised curb inside the Bloomington Street entrance where the road bends to the right will keep traffic from mistakenly heading the wrong way into one-way, outbound traffic.

“This is exciting,” Merrell summarized. “We’re going to have the best park ever.”

Plans are to revisit the Robe-Ann Park improvement plans in April and May and invite the public to see what is proposed as the city applies for a DNR Land and Water grant.

In other business, the Park Board:

-- Unanimously approved a request for a story walk along the Albin Pond Trail, as presented by Mindy Duckett, community wellness coordinator for Putnam County Extension, along with representatives from the Soil & Water Conservation District and Putnam County Public Library. Twenty frames, atop metal structures, will feature stories geared toward youngsters. The structures are expected to be installed 28-32 inches off the ground. The idea not only encourages reading but physical activity. The 20 frames will be about the length of the average children’s book.

-- Unanimously agreed to a new maintenance contract with Putnam County Comprehensive Services (PCCS) for one worker to be paid $16 an hour for 150 days for four hours a day (8 a.m.-noon) for a $9,600 total (contract will be not to exceed $10,000). Worker will start March 29 and continue until Oct. 29. This will be the third year for the agreement between the park and PCCS.

-- Approved a $13,894 expenditure for new lockers in the pool changing rooms. Funding will come from the Park Department’s non-reverting capital fund.

-- Heard Weinschenk report that “everybody’s onsite” for projects under way at the aquatic center and Big Walnut Sports Park.

-- Heard Weinschenk report that 60 percent of the lifeguards needed for the aquatic center season have already committed to those roles. Planning for the pool season is proceeding with the assumption it will go on as scheduled.

-- Learned that a total of 2,424 valentines were received and distributed to local senior living facilities through Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger’s successful Valentine’s Day program.

-- Heard that the 2021 Easter egg hunt at Robe-Ann Park has been canceled (see separate story online or in last Friday’s paper).

Park Director Weinschenk and Park Board President Merrell were joined for the March meeting by fellow board members Tim Trigg, Pete Meyer and (via Zoom) Joanna Muncie, along with Mayor Bill Dory, Assistant Director Snellenberger and Park Maintenance Director David Bault.

The next meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 at City Hall.