By HOLLY GASKILL
Bluffton Parks Department Superintendent Brandy Fiechter told the park board Thursday a donor had contacted offering to fund half the amount needed to add pickleball courts to the project. Fiechter said the department would have to raise the other half for the other portion, but she saw it as a worthwhile effort.
Additionally, Fiechter said the addition could be packaged with the pavement of the Lancaster Park parking lot, which has been worn and damaged through the park’s construction.
The park board supported the decision 3-0, with board members Rick McEvoy, Christine Zadylak and John Gerber in favor and Susan Campbell abstaining.
Fiechter said she’d begin working with the project engineer, but she first needed approval from the Land Water Conservation Fund.
Lancaster Park, located across from Lancaster Central Elementary, is currently set to include a football/soccer field, a 9-hole dual-use foot/disc golf course, two sand volleyball courts, a lighted basketball court, a playground, a Gaga ball court, a human foosball court, and two sets of cornhole boards. It will also contain a pavilion, solar-powered charging station, bike repair station, and a fire pit.
Other updates included:
• The department received two grants — $1,000 from Walmart and $12,500 from the Wells County Community Foundation for the Lancaster Park foot/disc golf course.
• The board approved up to $20,000 for exterior upgrades to the Lancaster Park building, exterior stone and grass, also the installation of the basketball, volleyball and lamp posts.
• Fiechter noted that July was a very active time for the department — over 1,100 people attended the Crush Bon Jovi concert at Kehoe Park, 48 participated in the “Fastest Kid in Town” race, and there were 26 pavilion rentals, among other items. Fiechter also noted that over 2,000 meals were served by the Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District at Roush Park this summer.
• Investments made in May have accrued over $12,000.
• Several repairs were completed at Jefferson Park. The department also spent $9,487.79 to repair the filter system after part of the system failed.
holly@news-banner.com
