By DAVE SCHULTZ
Admission fees for the Wells Community Pool and rates for Parks Department facility rentals will go up in 2024.
The three members of the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department’s board present at Thursday night’s meeting — Rick McEvoy, Christine Zadylak, and Susan Campbell (John Gerber was absent) — approved the rate increases proposed by Parks Superintendent Brandy Fiechter. They were modest increases for the most part; for instance, pool admissions went up from $3.50 to $4 for adults and from $3 to $3.50 for children.
Rental of the large pavilion at Roush Park went from $75 per day to $95 for four hours or less and $125 for more than four hours. Rental of the small pavilion at Roush Park cost $50 per day this year; next year’s fees will be $50 for up to four hours and $60 for more than four hours.
Rental of the new pavilion at Roush Park will run $60 for up to four hours and $70 for more than four hours.
The city’s most rented pavilion in 2023 has been the inside facility at Washington Park, and the rental rates for that will go from $80 to $95 Monday through Thursday and from $130 to $150 Friday through Sunday. The difference between the weekday and weekend rates is an effort to even out the pavilion’s rental numbers; this year the facility was rented only 16 times during the week and 47 times on the weekend.
In other business Thursday night:
• The Lancaster Park upgrade is nearing completion, and Fiechter said many of the various contractors are expected to be wrapping up their work this month. The basketball court is finished and many other features are set. Fiechter said she had been told that three semi-tractor-trailer loads of mulch had been put in place on the playground.
• A public meeting on plans to ease erosion on the banks of the Wabash River will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Washington Park pavilion. The public meeting is a requirement of the city’s receipt of a $10,757.52 Lake and River Enhancement grant.
• Fiechter announced an increase in her calculation of costs for the pool’s 2023 season. Some chemicals were purchased last year, which meant that the total amount spent on pool operation this year was $117,383.01.
• A walk to raise support for the department’s Rock Steady program for those with Parkinson’s disease raised $6,650. A $150 donation was received from the Elks Club for swim lesson equipment.
• Day of Caring volunteers painted the gazebo and pulled weeds at the Iris Garden on the Rivergreenway.
daves@news-banner.com
