Arguments ensue at meeting, Splash Park on hold indefinitely?

The Huntingburg Park Board attempted to consider a change in the November decision on where the proposed splash park would be built at the meeting on Feb. 21. In January the board requested that Huntingburg City Engineer determine the costs for both locations and he was to present the board with the estimates at the February meeting.

The board had unanimously voted to build the splash park on the northeast corner of the city pool in November. Last month, when Jason Lange replaced Jeff Summers on the board, a discussion ensued to change the mind of the board on the location. Summers and board member Marlene Morgan had spearheaded the effort to move the project forward and were instrumental in the decision to place the splash park on the north east location.

City Engineer Brian Small addressed the board with figures on the potential cost to prepare the northeast corner for the construction of the park. He quoted a three foot retaining wall would need to be built and approximately 10 truckloads of sand used to back-fill and level the area.

Small also pointed out the drainage from the splash park would require a wetwell and pump to move the water to the drainage ditch adjacent to Cherry Street. An option has been considered to recirculate the waste water into the city pool but the State Board of Health won’t allow the water to be used in a public pool.

Small stated the wall and fill to level the north location would cost $15,000 and the pump and wetwell would be another $10,000.

Board Secretary Joyce Fleck requested the information concerning the south site with the addition of a shaded area with benches and tables. Small stated he didn’t have those estimates for that site but continued to state that the north area would be more expensive to develop.

Fleck pointed out the board wanted to know how much it would cost to have a shaded area with benches and tables on the south side of the pool similar to the already existing structures on the north side.

Alia Gasser, the summer manager of the pool, addressed the board about the previously approved location as well. She stated the area beside the baby pool is congested due to the concessions and the parents and children using the baby pool. Morgan attempted to explain that the splash park was designed as an attraction for younger children and it would be appropriate for the splash park to be near the baby pool.

As the conversation turned to heated discussion about safety, shade, benches, where parents like to sun themselves, and other issues the point was made about the feasibility of the project if they did not charge access. The estimated cost of the water for the park is over $900 a month. Morgan stated this wasn’t even a consideration in determining the site. She felt the cost was low for what most municipalities have stated is a wonderful feature to include for the children to use.

Mike Fulkerson recommended the board wait a year to put the splash park in to “do it right”.

This was followed by Morgan making a motion to trash the entire project but the motion died without a second.

Fulkerson then made a motion to wait to gather more information to make a good decision on the placement.

Fleck stated that is what they were supposed to review at the meeting tonight and pointed out the minutes from the January meeting “Mike and Jason requested cost estimates for both sites and the rest of the board agreed. Brian will present cost estimates at February’s meeting.” She read from the minutes. “This is what we requested and we don’t have it, how do we proceed?”

Jim Rueger has continually stated he would like the splash park be located on the south side of the pool but Morgan has contested this is a bad area due to the age of the children that use the basketball courts. According to Jeff Summers he voted for the north location  due to the safety factors involved in children walking along the edge of the pool to get over to the splash park. Small stated a sidewalk could be added to allow access to the splash park on the south side of the pool and a short safety fence could separate the children from the pool as they walk back and forth to the bathrooms and concessions.

The board plans on returning to the discussion at next month’s meeting.