The tentative plan is to construct a new skate park where the old Liz Frazier softball field sits at the western end of Richardson-Dubois Park. InkFreeNews photos by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Board of Works on Friday, Sept. 6, approved the first step toward moving Mantis Skate Park to Richardson-Dubois Park along East Market Street.

Parks Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa presented a concept design contract for the park relocation with American Ramp Company, Joplin, Mo., in the amount of $7,500. The company currently services the existing skatepark ramps and originally installed them.

The new skatepark would move from the Little League Drive location on the city’s west side to an area on the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park near the Dollar General store.

Wieringa explained that the idea to relocate the skatepark originally came from the Stellar Communities project and has since been included in the parks department five-year master plan. “I just feel like it’s a much safer area as far as transportation to the park,” said Wieringa.

A view of the existing Mantis Skate park, which was first established roughly 25 years ago.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer echoed that comment and said that with the reconstruction of Market Street, this is exactly what the street was designed for. The street will include bump-outs, which will make it safer for children and families to cross the street. In addition, the sidewalks will better accommodate both pedestrian and biking traffic.

Richardson-Dubois Park has been significantly revamped in recent years, sporting new playground equipment, restrooms and a pavilion, all west of Fribley Football Field.

The hope is for the move to occur in 2021. This concept design contract is just the first step to take before the department seeks funding for the project.

It was noted that the Parks Department wants to take advantage of the space currently occupied by the skate park and still provide recreational opportunities, but there are no current plans for how to use it.

The board also approved a contract with Design Collaborative, Fort Wayne, to conduct an examination of options for construction repairs of Station No. 2 on East Center Street. The fee for this is $21,172, which does not include any of the actual construction processes.

The building, which was built in the 1970s, is experiencing problems with its structure and foundation. Thallemer explained that these issues are very similar to what Station No. 1 experienced several years ago. When addressing the Station No. 1 issues, the city did not do this examination phase of the project, which lead to many surprise repairs and expenses along the way. By going through the examination phase, the city will receive an estimate of construction costs and possibly receive different options for fixing the issues.

Design Collaborative’s report states that their assumption at this time is that the construction cost of the repairs will be approximately $1.5 million.

In other matters, the board approved:

• Street closures for the Lincolnway Cubmobile on Sept. 21 on Indiana Street, Family Safety Day on Saturday, Sept. 7, on Canal and Indiana streets, Park Ridge Neighborhood Tailgate on Sept. 28 on Laurelwood Drive and the Patriot Day 9/11 Ceremony on Sept. 11 on Canal Street.
• An insurance valuation by Griffin Real Estate Services on city buildings for updated appraisals.
• An agreement with Cottage Watchman for an alarm system at Fire Station No. 2.
• A generator maintenance agreement with Cummins for Fire Station No. 3.
• The Police Department to pursue quotes for 2021 fuel prices.
• Pay applications for the Lincoln Elementary Sidewalk project, the Lucerne Amphitheatre project, wastewater treatment plant expansion project and the sewer rehabilitation project.
• Extending the Plaza Lunch program through the end of October. This is contingent on working around the upcoming streetlight replacement at the intersection of Buffalo and Center streets.