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‘Mixed reactions’ to likely demise of Emerald Palace
A month after learning that the Emerald Palace playground at Robe-Ann Park may be on its last legs, the Greencastle Park Board checked the pulse of the community in response.
Park Board President Cathy Merrell said she has even had people come up on her Anderson Street home porch to talk about the issue that could see the Emerald Palace -- an October 2001 volunteer construction effort with labor from a band of 1,200 local residents -- possibly replaced in 2025.
Saying reactions have been mixed, Merrell asked Assistant Park Director/Maintenance Director Chrysta Snellenberger, who dropped the bombshell on the Park Board at its March meeting, what her experience has been since that announcement.
Saying she too has had mixed reactions, Snellenberger noted that once she has been able to explain to people the condition of the playground and the problems that presents, they have been more understanding.
“People are aware (that it’s deteriorating),” Merrell replied, “it’s the memory aspect they don’t want to lose.”
“We’re not looking to get rid of the memory,” Snellenberger assured, “we’re looking at making it safe.”
Plans are to keep the commemorative pickets and retain the castle theme, she added.
Coincidentally, the playground -- which resulted from a six-day community blitz construction effort spearheaded by the Greencastle Civic League and won 2001 Citizen of the Year honors for its three main organizers, Denise Sigworth, Rachel Seipel and Lynn Wilson -- is currently closed and taped off from all access because of Phase II of the Robe-Ann Park renovation project.
“Is it repairable? “ Park Board member Doug Hutchison asked.
“No,” Snellenberger succinctly responded before noting that the a number of areas of the wooden structure need to be replaced.
“If it’s that bad,” Hutchison said, “I don’t want anybody to get hurt on it either.”
The issue isn’t just the condition of the playground but also the accessibility.
“Look at it now,” Merrell pointed out, “because of all the mulch, not every kid or every parent who comes into the park can use and enjoy the Emerald Palace.”
Park maintenance people will be making repairs “as much as we can so people can still play on it,” Snellenberger said, telling the board she plans to meet with Civic League representatives April 15.
Merrell suggested that a community meeting would perhaps be in order as well.
No decision was made on the matter by the Park Board.
In other business, the Park Board:
• Heard Recreation Director Ashley Crady report that despite the annual Park Department Easter Egg Hunt being moved to Big Walnut Sports Park because of the construction at Robe-Ann, “we still had a good crowd,” while acknowledging “we probably lost a few people by it being out there.” Regardless, Crady said some thought is being given to making the move to Big Walnut permanent. “It might be a new spot for it,” she said.
• Heard Crady report that 22 dogs took part in the March 23 Doggie Easter Egg Hunt at Big Walnut Sports Park dog park. She said all the dogs were well behaved and not all the 600 donated dog treats were put out with the remainder being given to the Humane Society.
• Tabled a decision on chemical treatments at the Jaycee Park pond after Jones Lake Management, Indianapolis, submitted a proposal for April-October applications at $500 a month or $4,000 total. The board earlier received a proposal for $800 per month from HWC, which has been paid for previous work on the pond although no contract has been entered into. Longtime Park Board member Tim Trigg noted that “the lake looks great, the best it’s looked in a long time.“ Park Director Greg Ruark will reach out to both companies for formal proposals to be considered at the May meeting.
• Voted 3-1 (with Trigg in opposition) to accept contracts with local youth leagues, which has not been accomplished in the past two years. The contracts will be for $1,000 with the soccer league (the city mows the fields) and $500 for baseball and softball. Plans are to reinvest the money back into the programs, Ruark said, through signage, beautification and anything the leagues believe necessary. “One way or another it’s long overdue,” Ruark said.
• Approved an April 21 Earth Day tree-planting program at Big Walnut Sports Park with 10-15 trees likely to be planted. The 2-5 p.m. program also will include a nature walk, food vendors, games and an educational session with City Planner Scott Zimmerman.
• Heard Ruark report that a tree-trimming effort out along Calbert Way and the trailhead there cost $4,000 and the bill with the Green Street company will be split with Putnam Parks and Pathways. “It really needed it,” Ruark said of the work. “It looks real nice out there now.”
• Gave permission to the Friends of the Library group, represented by Linda Raines, to put in a Little Library along one of the pathways near First Baptist Church in honor of the late Judge Diana LaViolette. A location to be chosen is expected to be near the condo she and husband John LaViolette have owned in the Glenview area. The Little Library comes ready made and the library group will stock it with books.
• Approved Big Walnut as the starting point for a Saturday, May 25 (9 a.m.) Zipp Recon Ride through the Vandalia Trail corridor. Bike rides of 80 and 100 miles are scheduled.
• Approved Big Walnut as the site of Putnam County Hospital’s annual Survivorship 5K for National Cancer Survivor Day on June 1 (10 a.m.).
Park Board President Merrell, Trigg and Hutchison were joined by fellow board member Scott Hamilton, Park Directors Ruark, Snellenberger and Crady and City Council President Stacie Langdon, who serves a liaison to the Parks Department.
The Park Board will next meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 at the park office.