Syracuse Park Foundation receives donations

By PHOEBE MUTHARTStaff Writer
Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation received some sizeable donations recently, board members heard at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 26. The foundation received donations for the trail project as well as one of its parks.

The foundation received a $100,000 donation. Of that $50,000 is for the Laudeman Park project and the other $50,000 will go toward the trail project. The Laudeman family gave the $100,000 and the rest was received from various community members.

Laudeman Park is being re-designed. A gazebo and a pavilion are being proposed. Bathrooms will be upgraded at the pavilion. Rotary Club has funds to help with the project.“There will be a partnership there,” said Chad Jonsson, parks superintendent.

The foundation also received a $15,423.06 donation for the trail project.

Jonsson gave the community foundation report.

“We had a good half of the year,” he reported. “We got $18,000 in six months.” He said $34,000 is in there for “a big project.”

The next big project will be the roof for the 20-year-old community center. Jonsson is going to get a request for a proposal from roofing companies, but not bids yet, to find out the cost of a new roof.

Jonsson gave an update on the trail project committee. Jonsson said he is working on grants for the rest of the trail project.

“We are working toward a planning engineer idea for the rest of the trails,” he said.The trail committee is using USI Consultants in Indianapolis for its master plan. “So far, we’ve raised $83,000,” Jonsson said.“It will be exciting to finish it,” said board member Dr. Tom Edington of the trails. “It will help get the trails done sooner, and USI wants to do the study now.”

“I don’t want it stalled for $17,000,” said Amy Rensberger, a park foundation member. “If we have it, we should use it.”Jonsson said there are other big projects, too, he told her that need to be done with the money. Rensberger said a matching grant would be helpful in order to finish the trail project.

Jonsson said Quick Books will be used for the trail committee funds. A retired accountant will do financial reports at a rate of $20 per hour. The cost of using Quick Books is $3,000 a year.

K21 Foundation also awarded the trail committee a $50,000 grant toward a trail plan for future expansion.

The adopt-a-bench program is going well, he said. So far, five benches have been adopted. Polywood donated the benches. The cost of a bench is $500.“They went quickly,” said Jonssson. Two benches will be placed at the municipal pier, one at Hoy’s Beach and one at Ward Park.

Jonsson gave the Henry Ward Park project update. The park is being re-designed and plans consist of new playground and boardwalk. He is working on getting grants for the project, which includes a design for a new pavilion, too.

Dr. Tom Edington presented the park foundation and trails financial report.

“December was interesting for the foundation,” he said, noting the donations it received.