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Latest city park escapade: Woman living in port-o-let
For Robe-Ann Park, 2023 turned out to be quite an unusual year for strange activity.
For example, last summer homeless people were discovered living in some bushes they had hollowed out north of the park office. The bushes were removed and the homeless folks moved along.
Then within hours of each other, two suspects were caught on camera doing drugs off a picnic table at shelterhouse No. 5 near the tennis courts. Greencastle City Police hauled them off to jail.
In the fall, the new security camera system ruled again, capturing more than an eyeful as a young couple was caught in a compromising position in the bandshell and ended up being arrested and charged with public indecency.
But the latest escapade, as 2023 came to an end, is perhaps the coup de grace.
The Greencastle Park Board was told Wednesday night that a homeless woman was found living in one of the port-o-lets brought in to Robe-Ann Park to provide restroom relief during the ongoing park restroom renovation.
Looking at the monthly claims, Park Board President Cathy Merrell spotted a $1,600 charge for port-o-lets and was moved to ask, “Are we done with port-a-potties?”
Park Director Greg Ruark responded by noting, “We had a member of the public living in one.”
With the rest of the board -- Tim Trigg, Doug Hutchison and new member Scott Hamilton -- looking on incredulously, Park Recreation Director Ashley Crady advised that a homeless woman was indeed living in a port-o-let “for at least two nights” before the park staff became aware of the situation on Dec. 22. They called the Greencastle City Police, who came in and summarily escorted her out of the park.
As always, there’s a Paul Harvey “the rest of the story” moment to tales like this.
“She smoked at least a pack of cigarettes each night she was in there,” Crady confided, no doubt amazed by the abundance of cigarette butts.
But it won’t happen again. The port-o-lets are gone now, Ruark said.
Meanwhile, the bathroom renovation is nearly complete, Assistant Park Director Chrysta Snellenberger said, explaining that the only thing left to do is install ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible panels beneath the sinks.
However, that led to other issues detailed by Snellenberger. During the renovation it was discovered that the restroom furnace needs to be replaced after problems were discovered with the heating elements. The unit is “so old” (a 1998 model) that the elements are no longer sold separately, so a $2,000 replacement and installation was suggested and approved on a motion by Merrell.
Also, Snellenberger asked the board to allow her to purchase a small, free-standing water heater to assist in cleaning and disinfecting the restrooms. The public will have no access to the water heater, assuring no potential for vandalism. Cost of the unit was uncertain but Hutchison made the motion to allow the purchase, saying, “We went to this expense (on the restrooms), we need to keep them neat and clean.”
Both motions passed unanimously.
The Park Board meeting began with Mayor Lynda Dunbar swearing in Hamilton, whose wife Carrie is the music teacher at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. They have three children. He has been at DePauw University since 2010 and is an avid runner who grew up playing hockey. And although he said he is “no relation to the figure skater” of the same name, Hamilton said in later conversation he would like to see the park look into ice skating options with the potential for developing a youth hockey team at some point. He currently coaches track and cross country in the schools.
Hamilton succeeds Joanna Muncie on the Park Board.
In other business, the Park Board:
-- Gave Ruark approval to put a request for proposals out for bids on the proposed Big Walnut Sports Park lighting project. Mayor Dunbar said she was “glad to see it get going. It’s been a long time coming.”
-- Heard Snellenberger report that eight new ADA picnic tables have been delivered to the park and are ready to be put together. One table will be added to each shelterhouse, the splash park and other locations like the sports park.
-- Heard Crady report that the two park-sponsored Christmas programs were successful with 25 families and 50-60 dogs taking part in pet photos with Santa. That event raised $379 for Putnam County Animal Care, while the Christmas breakfast event (formerly Breakfast with the Grinch) profited a little more than $100 thanks to donations of food from Walmart and the venue from 3 Fat Labs.
-- Learned that youth basketball sign-up is under way with 71 youngsters already registered. Crady said the goal is to have four teams per age group.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Board is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 at the park office.