While the new maintenance truck wasn’t put to plowing yet, it’ll be ready for the next round of snow. Syracuse Park Board members swarmed around the truck after Monday’s meeting to check it out. (Photo by Elisa Walker)

SYRACUSE — For the first meeting of the year Monday, Jan. 14, Syracuse Park Board hit the ground running with new purchases to use up the last of 2018’s expenses and plans to start on new development projects.

The new maintenance truck is already starting to settle in at the community center, much to the relief of staff members.

“It’ll be a good addition to the department compared to the one before,” commented Parks Superintendent Chad Jonsson.

Other end of the year purchase orders include LED lights for Henry Ward Park and the community center, replacement ramps in the skate park and a door-opening handicap button for the back door of the community center. While some of these purchases may not be installed until spring, it will already bring refreshing changes for patrons.

While reviewing the financial report, David Johnston inquired about expenses listed for a map. Jonsson replied many people stop at the community center for directions and locations, which led them to decide to have the county geographic information system make a large map with all the streets on it.

The parks department was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Harkless Foundation to use toward the Laudeman Park project for planning and potential development. Jonsson informed the board Pat Brown, who worked on the department’s master plan, will be visiting to work out a plan of action.

Judo and pickleball continue on a weekly basis. Family movie night will be showing “Infinity War” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at the community center.

The registration for Princess Party — Tinker Bell’s Fairy Land Adventure — is now open. Two sessions will take place in Saturday, March 23. The party will include snacks, crafts, dancing, fairy training and more. Each session will have up to 20 spots open with a limit of two adults per child. The event will be $15 per child and $10 per adult. To register, stop by the community center.

To bring the meeting to a close, the board approved to keep Dave VanLue and Paul Newcomer as president and vice president for 2019.