Pictured are Jenell Lehman, left, and Chad Jonsson at the Syracuse Park Board meeting Monday, Feb. 12.  InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Park and Recreation Board heard updates on some ongoing projects at its meeting Monday, Feb. 12.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, said work on Henry Ward Park is on track. He said the project is nearly completed other than concrete work. He said he will send the quotes when he gets them from Thompson Concrete.

The new playground equipment will be installed the first week in May.

No asbestos was found at the site according to a recent report, and the report has been forwarded to SiteWorx.

Jonsson said he’d like to also pave the parking lot.

“It’s coming together,” he said.

A butterfly garden project will be conducted by Amanda Torres at Laudeman Park.

“It’s her winter project,” said Jonsson, noting benches have moved out to the park.

A metal roof will be installed on the Syracuse Community Center the first week in April, Jonsson noted.

Jonsson gave the tree board report. He said an Arbor Day celebration will be held Friday, April 26. Wawasee’s third grade students will attend the event at Schrock Fields. The Lilly Center and Soil Water and Conservation District will also be at the event.

Rotary Club member Susan Stump requested approval to have a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament Saturday, March 9. It will start at 11 a.m. and doors open at 10 a.m. The fundraiser is for the club’s scholarship fund. Beer will also be served. Check the club’s Facebook page for more details.

“We give away a lot of money,” Stump said. “It (the tournament) has really grown.”

The rules signs have arrived for Lakeside Park and will be installed in the spring with some landscaping to be conducted around the signs.

Darin Lursen, program manager, gave the program report. He said yoga is occurring five days a week. Multiple yoga classes at different times take place at SCC with about five people on average attending each class.

Lursen said line dancing “has been a huge hit” with about 12 people attending.

The next euchre tournament with eight tables will be this Friday, Feb. 16 at SCC.

The basketball league will play another two weeks at SCC.

An indoor garage sale will be March 2 at SCC. Lursen said the event is full and two people are on the waiting list.

Two different princess parties will take place Saturday, Feb. 24. This year, Aurora from “Sleeping Beauty” will in attendance.

Jonsson gave the financial report for January.

The next meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, at SCC.