Syracuse Park Board President Paul Newcomer, left, board member David Johnston and board member Kip Schumm review the minutes of the March Syracuse Park Board meeting held Monday, April 10.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — While opening day for Little League will be Saturday, April 15, a special celebration for Schrock Field is in the works.

Invitations have been sent out to park board members, contractors, town council members and major donors for the official ribbon cutting which, will be held Saturday, April 29.

There will be a parade of Little League teams from Syracuse Elementary School along Kern Road to the new Schrock Field, where there will be a short presentation. Teams will take to the fields shortly after the grand opening celebration.

Park employees are currently busy working on a few minor projects that still need to be completed at the ballpark. The project contractor is addressing areas where there is a large amount of runoff in the ballpark. A flag pole, purchased by the American Legion Post 223, has been installed and there will be landscaping around the base.

Pitching mounds and the dog walking stations have been installed. The lights have been turned on and pointed down so as to not interfere with neighboring homes.

National Arbor Day is Friday, April 28. The parks department will be celebrating from noon to 1:30 p.m. with third graders from Syracuse Elementary School. They will be planting evergreens along the south side of the new ballpark.

The parks department will also plant about 10 street trees in Kerns Crossing and in other areas of town. Board member Kip Schumm asked about replacing some of magnolias along Lakeside Park. Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, said those would be planted in addition to the street trees.

The Syracuse Park Foundation met two weeks ago and signed a contract to replace the Henry Ward Park pavilion and restrooms. Jonsson told the board he hopes the project will begin later this summer, hopefully in late June or early July depending on weather.

Jonsson recommended the board create a facilities improvement committee. He explained when the board created its comprehensive and project plans, the department has been ticking off projects as they are completed.

Jonsson would like a committee to walk through the park facilities, see what projects need to be done and assist in prioritizing them. Paul Newcomber, board president, said he would be willing to help on the committee.

Darin Lursen, program coordinator, reported the Easter egg hunts held April 1 went well despite having to be moved inside due to rainy weather. Approximately 110 kids participated. “A lot of happy faces,” he reported.

This year the parks department partnered with area businesses to hide several eggs in them and in area parks. It took about three days for all the eggs to be located. Lursen told the board this type of egg hunt may replace the geocaching egg hunt done in the past.

In upcoming programs Lursen reported the next Princess Parties will be Saturday, April 22. He is also working on the annual Touch-A-Truck event and the Mudtastic Classic.