Pictured, from left, Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer, new board member Jill Beehler and Parks Board President Steve Haines.

WARSAW —  At the Warsaw Parks & Recreation board meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 19, new board member Jill Beehler was sworn in by Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer. Beehler will serve as the Warsaw Library representative and is filling the spot formerly held by Rick Paczkowski.

Warsaw resident Steve Lockridge approached board members with a request for a concrete chess/checker board table in an area park. Estimated cost for the table and chairs would be approximately $2,000. Lockridge said he would be willing to try raising the funds for this himself. Board members agreed to allow Lockridge to proceed with attempting to raise the funds.

Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner discussed progress on the new restroom building at Richardson-DuBois Park on Market Street in Warsaw. Gardner said they will begin work with a contractor and advised that progress should move quickly after that.

Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa shared stats with board members related to Mantis Skate Park, located at Little League Drive, Warsaw. According to Wieringa, 92 waivers were filled out for Mantis Skate Park in 2016, and this year 210 waivers were filled out. In 2016 there were 305 visits to the park while this year they had 957 visits. Wieringa noted there were 16 rain days in 2016. In 2017 there have been 26 rain days.

“We had more rain days this year and still had triple the number of visits to the skate park,” said Wieringa.

Wieringa also requested permission to modify a rule at the skate park. Currently scooters and bikes are prohibited at the park. Wieringa requested that scooters be allowed at the park, stating she feels this would reach the younger demographic. Wieringa explained that a small test run had been done to ensure that scooters would not cause damage to the ramps or asphalt.

“What we’re seeing is that many of the older kids who are skateboarding at the park are bringing younger siblings who are not yet comfortable on a skateboard, but they are comfortable on a scooter,” Wieringa said.

Park Board Superintendent Larry Plummer was supportive of Wieringa’s request, stating, “Stephanie and Sheila have worked relentlessly to try to get the numbers up at the skate park, and this is just another avenue to do that.”

Wieringa told board members that helmets would be required for anyone riding scooters in the park.

“They will follow the same safety procedures as the skateboarders,” Wieringa stated.

This request was approved by board members.

Plummer presented paperwork with current facility rates related to shelters, cabins, dock fees and campground fees. Plummer asked board members to look over the papers before the next meeting and asked for input from board members regarding the rates.

Members of a local pickleball group, Pickleball Fanatics, attended the meeting to request that one of the tennis courts at Kelly Park, Fawley Street, Warsaw, be modified in order to be used as a pickleball court. Mike Metzger, Atwood, and Dave Weidenbenner, Warsaw, brought written estimates for these modifications. Metzger stated that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States at this time. Park Board President Steve Haines said he felt this is something that should be looked into, suggesting that the matter be tabled for now and discussed again in the future.

Other news:

• The next regular meeting will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17.