Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose, right, swears in Michelle Boxell for a four-year term on the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board at the board’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A park at Gateway Grove is part of the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s special projects plans for 2024.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board heard a rundown of the plans from Warsaw Parks and Recreation Superintendent Larry Plummer.

“We’ve had discussions with Cary Groninger and the development team over there, and I think we’re moving in the right direction with that to have a park on the west side of town,” said Plummer of establishing a facility near Groninger’s housing development Gateway Grove, located on North Union Street at the site of the former Madison Elementary School and Gateway Education Center.

Plummer said Groninger plans to donate playground equipment for the park, with the land also being donated. Leaders said after the meeting the park would be around one half of an acre.

Other plans for the year include putting in a recreational volleyball court at Center Lake Beach and installing benches along the Center Lake Recreational Trail.

In other business, the board:

• Watched Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose swear in Board Member Michelle Boxell for a four-year term.
• Approved having Steve Haines and Larry Ladd serve as board president and vice president respectively for another year.
• Heard from Plummer he was still working with resident Judy Heiman about finding a solution to pickleball noise at Kelly Park. She’s found a noise expert who will hopefully come in the spring to give advice about sound mitigation.
• Heard from Warsaw Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer that an estimated 1,000 people came out for Light Up the Night in December.
• Heard from Schaefer there are still 90 tickets left for the Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance with the theme of Denim and Diamonds set for 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion. Sales end at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. People may register by going to secure.rec1.com/IN/warsaw-in/catalog.
• Heard that Young Tiger Football donated $2,132 from concession sales at Central Park’s Christmas lights display back for the display.
• Heard that Parker Shoemaker and Andy Wright were the parks’ department team members of the month for November and December respectively.

The board’s next meeting is 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Warsaw City Hall.

Parker Shoemaker, right, is the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s team member of the month for November. With him is Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer. Photo provided.

Andy Wright, right, is the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s team member of the month for December. With him is Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer. Photo provided.