Syracuse Park Board had its first meeting of the year Monday, Jan. 10. Pictured from left are park board members Brent Berkeypile, Carol Koble, and Mary Hursh. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Banks.

By Phoebe Banks
Staff Writer

SYRACUSE — Schrock Fields is on schedule for work being done at the new site on Kern Road in Syracuse.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, gave the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board an update on the new ball field at its meeting Monday, Jan. 10.

So far, the parking lot has been paved and lights have been put up. A building is currently being put up for concessions, restrooms and storage. Siding has been ordered.

“We met last week with all the contractors,” Jonsson said of last Wednesday. “We are on schedule.”

A walking path and a playground are also part of the plans. The paved walking path will connect to Kerns Crossing.

There will be a field for T-ball games and a basketball court. The court can be turned into an ice rink in the winter. REMC will do the electric work; sewer and water work still needs to be done. There will be four fenced-in fields.

Jonsson said football games may be able to start in the fall, if the new field is mostly complete.

A mower for Schrock Fields will need to be purchased. Jonsson said he’s been looking at several new mowers, since the mowing will be done in-house. The new ballfield will be 23 acres, 15 of which will need to be mowed.

“I need to look into cost and get something we can afford,” he said.

The tree board, said Jonsson, is working on plantings and removals, including tree stumps, for 2022. In March and April, several trees will be planted and, in the fall, some trees will be removed.

“We will do some small plantings,” Jonsson said. “Last year, we got a grant for new trees.”

Eighteen tree stumps will also need to be removed.

Two heating units have been installed at the community center. One is for the hallways and one is for offices.

The interior of the Syracuse Community Center will be painted this winter. Smith Painting will begin painting “room by room” in February, said Jonsson.

Darin Lursen gave the program report. A princess party will be held on March 19 and there are only 20 spots available. Registration begins next Monday, Jan. 17. The theme is “The Little Mermaid.”

An indoor garage sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5. The cost is $10 for a spot and $5 for a table. Registration begins Wednesday, Jan. 12.

The parks’ bingo event will take place Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Syracuse. A basketball league started two weeks ago, said Lursen.

The election of 2022 officers took place. Paul Newcomer will the new chairperson and David Johnston will be vice president and library board appointee A new board member was at the meeting. Brent Berkeypile will serve as Wawasee School board’s appointee. He is the principal of Wawasee Middle School.

A potential park board member attended the meeting. Dave Winters is associate pastor at Wawasee Bible Community Church. If he becomes a new member and is appointed, his recommendation will need to go before Syracuse Town Council.

Jonsson gave the financial report for the end of 2021. He said everything was approved by the state.

The board also reviewed and approved end-of-year purchase orders.

The next meeting is 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14.

The election of 2022 officers took place at the Syracuse Park Board meeting Monday, Jan. 10. Paul Newcomer will be the new chairperson and David Johnston will be vice president. Brent Berkeypile will serve as Wawasee School Board’s new appointee. Pictured from left are Johnston, Newcomer and Berkeypile. Photo by Phoebe Banks.

Pictured are the plans for the new Schrock Fields. Work is currently being done on the property, which will include a football field, T-ball field, basketball court, a playground, a concession stand, and more. Map provided by the Syracuse Parks Department.