Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The city of Warsaw's Parks and Recreation Department received a matching grant for a proposed new skate park. This was discussed during Tuesday’s park board meeting.
The Parks and Recreation Department applied in June for a Dekko Foundation grant for the proposed new skate park, and was awarded a $40,000 matching grant. They are pursuing additional grants, such as with the K21 Health Foundation and the AWS Foundation. Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer stated the grant will go toward the project and will hopefully be favorable toward the community.
The Team Member of the Month for the Parks Department is Dylan Thomas, who has been a huge help to the parks department, according to Plummer.
He has taken on the task of cleaning the bathrooms for the last two years, doing an exceptional job on them.
“We’ve shut the bathrooms down for the season, so he’s back in with the team with a positive attitude, and is a great guy,” stated Plummer.
When Thomas was asked by Board member Jill Beehler why he cleans the bathrooms, she said he responded, “Well, no one else wanted to do it, so I just embraced that job, and I’m the restroom cleaner.” Plummer responded he is the best restroom cleaner they have had in years.
Maintenance Report
The parks' maintenance department has been busy getting the parks ready for the winter season, but also with other events that will be going on.
The crews worked all week prior to the Fall Family Fun Event on Oct. 3 to get the facilities and supplies ready.
The second hole at the disc golf course at Lucerne Park got a new retaining wall around it to help stop erosion. This retaining wall has now been done on all three holes, and according to Plummer, “The golfers seem to love it, and it takes care of the erosion problem.”
The campgrounds are closed for the season. Park staff has stored all the picnic tables, fire rings, canoes and kayaks; removed rental piers; and winterized the water lines and buildings. All the park restrooms have also been winterized, excluding the Center Lake pavilion outdoor restrooms, which are heated; and the one in the Plaza, which will be done after the Spooktacular event this Friday, Oct. 24.
The picnic tables have been removed from the park to be refurbished.
The kayak and paddle board kiosks have been closed and cleaned out for the season.
The Christmas display project has been started. All of the figurines have been checked and repaired if needed. Light strands are currently being checked and put up, and the arches have been repaired. The arches are planned to go up at the end of October, with the display running from Dec. 5-31.
The staff is working on securing the stairwell at City Hall.
The fall fertilization was completed at Central, McKinley and Rotary parks.
There is some stump grinding going on at some of the parks.
Recreation Report
On Oct. 3, the Parks Department hosted the Fall Family Fun Event. Parks Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer thanked all the sponsors that came out and also thanked the Indiana Hoosier Radio Club and the Warsaw Missionary Church. The Radio Club helped move traffic through easily and communicated with each other where there were spots open for people to move through. The Warsaw Missionary Church fed up to 1,000 people this year.
“With the event being outside, there were no hiccups,” reported Schaefer. “We tried counting the people who got on the hay wagons, and we were between 2,200 and 2,400 people.”
The Radio Club has stated their interest in helping out again next year, which the board agreed with.
Schaefer also reported the following:
• Glow Night was moved at Mantis Skate Park from Aug. 29 to Sept. 19, and had a great turnout.
• The senior fall craft took place on Sept. 24.
• The family pumpkin paint class was Sept. 26.
• The senior paint class was Sept. 27.
• From Oct. 14-17, several events were held, including Imagination Station, senior paint class, Family Game Night and Go Wild, which sold out.
There are also upcoming events to look forward to, which include:
• Santa letters
• “The Grinch Movie,” showing at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Warsaw Community High School, which is in partnership with the Performing Arts Center.
• Another Imagination Station is planned on November.
• Light up the Night will be from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5 and run from Dec. 5-31. There will be Santa and live reindeer.
The next meeting, which will be held at 5:15 p.m. Nov. 18, will involve discussion and establishment of rental fees for the 2026 season.
