The Winamac Park Board is looking to clarify who’s responsible for what, when it comes to the maintenance of the Town Park. Board member Jon Chapman raised the issue during Thursday’s meeting, noting that there are a lot of moving parts, when it comes to running the park, “Some of which are handled by Power from the Past, some of which are handled by [Park Manager] Dave [DeLorenzo], some of which are handled by Dave with help from the town, some of which are handled by other parties. Dave asked from the time we became a board for kind of a list of what the priority things are, and we really haven’t ever done that,” Chapman said.
Among other issues, it was noted that the groups using the athletic facilities often do a good job maintaining them during their particular season, but they could use some extra work at other times. Some of the board members felt it would be reasonable to ask the park’s regular users for more help, if necessary. Board President Courtney Poor said that groups who refuse to help maintain the park should be charged a bill. “I don’t want to get into any type of shouting match or anything with any of the organizations,” he said. “But there are some people that are saying, ‘It’s not my job, and we’re not going to do it.’ Well, okay, if that’s the way it is, and we’re going to do it and you’re going to use the facility, well, I guess that there’s going to be a bill coming your way.”
Winamac officials say there have also been issues with overgrown vegetation on county-owned land near the Town Park.
Initially, Chapman proposed coming up with a maintenance schedule, but board member Pat Bawcum felt those decisions are best left to the park manager. “Overall, the park looks fine. I walk it every day at least once, and there are spots here and there I think, ‘Ooh, that looks sort of icky.’ But you know what? Out of the whole scheme of things, it might be one or two little spots. So I guess, we trust you to do what you think is right and what’s the priority,” she told DeLorenzo.
In the end, board members agreed to schedule a work session with DeLorenzo, to discuss the core issues of who’s responsible for what, what the park board’s expectations are for the entire year, and the possibility of billing organizations who don’t cooperate. The work session will be held Thursday, August 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Park.
