A community help building day is tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, after the equipment is scheduled to be delivered this week to the All Inclusive Playground. The playground is in phase one with the anticipation of a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime around the third weekend in September.
More information will be forthcoming.
Tye Lydon, Parks and Recreation Director, received quotes on the splash pad. The best quote being $36-$38,000.00 from My Splash Pad. While the grant for this project was not received there is $20,000.00 budgeted for pool repairs that could be used for the splash pad.
Pool Tours were taken at Cuba, St. James, Licking and Rolla by Stan Podorski, Park Board President, and Lydon. They viewed amenities and facilities, which were discussed and shared as to what would be most fitting for Salem. Podorski and Lydon will get a plan and drawing in place to present to the board at the next meeting. Kevin James, board member, would like to get the process going by September to stay on schedule. Healthy Dent County is participating in healthy food snacks being at all the concession stands at the pool. They will help with the cost of the food and possibly a refrigerator. This pursual was unanimously approved.
• Concrete work around the concession stand to the softball field is completed with city crews working on filling dirt and seeding grass.
• The Sheltered Workshop has reconstructed bleachers at the Al Brown fields so the hot metal bleachers will be removed. Also picnic tables have been repaired or replaced. Maintenance has also been done at the concession stand and bathrooms.
• According to Lydon, the city will be re-forming steps, concrete, ramps and installing a concrete pad in preparation for a new light transformer at Al Brown Fields. Discussion also included the city crew constructing a concession building at cheaper cost than purchasing one.
• Thank you signs will be erected near park improvements.
• Podorski extends thanks to the American Volunteers for the newly built and installed benches at the tennis courts. The American Volunteers will also be repainting and remarking the basketball courts in the near future.
• Grass at the soccer fields, on Hwy. 19, has been cut low so a preliminary marking of the fields can take place. While there is no water or lights currently, there are available grants to provide for it once the field has been created.
• Joyce Bradley with the Garden Club inquired about the possibility of removing the gates into the City of Salem Park as well as the big rock. This would be to achieve a more welcoming entrance. The Park Board was in agreement, Ray Walden, City Administrator, will check on the significance of the large rock, ensuring it is not a monument and can be removed.
• Walden informed the board that the City of Salem had approved $115,000.00 be put into the Park and Recreation budget due to a shortfall of the same amount from the 2015 budget.
