Darin Lursen, Jace Stewart and Janell Lehman ponder over some business at Monday night’s park board meeting at Lakeside Park in Syracuse. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board met Monday, Oct. 14, at Lakeside Park on a cool, cloudy day. Despite the chill in the air, the board got down to business at the last meeting at a park for this year.

Superintendent Chad Jonsson said he has some projects he would like to do in 2025. He gave the estimates on each project he would like to make happen next year. He said he would like to do one project per park next year.

Work also needs to be done at the Syracuse Community Center, such as the center’s HVAC equipment, among other projects and repairs.

Jonsson sent letters to six businesses and received one bid back. The park board members decided to go with Syracuse-based Wallace Plumbing, Heating and Cooling’s bid for $1,960. The work is for the community center’s HVAC equipment.

For irrigation services, Jonsson sent five quotes and got back two bids.

The board accepted a bid from The Irrigation Guys, Claypool, at a cost of $385. This bid is for the community center’s irrigation system.

As far as fertilization and weed control for the parks, Jonsson said he received estimates for each park from MK Property Maintenance LLC, Syracuse. That decision was tabled until the next meeting so Jonsson can gather more information about the bids.

Superintendent Chad Jonsson gave the tree board report. He said there will be several trees planted this fall.

He is working with the street department to remove dead trees and it will have about six weeks to remove the trees by the end of the year.

Ward Park’s parking lot paving project is complete. There are eight new parking spaces and the street department will paint the lines.

“We pay for the paint,” said Jonsson. “We will also be putting in handicapped spots.”

Jonsson gave the financial report for Sept. 9 to Oct. 14, and the report for September.

“There is nothing unusual,” he said. “We are doing okay.”

Darin Lursen, program manager, gave the program report. He said the recent Harvest Fest went well with good weather and temps in the 70s.

“It was a perfect day, the best we’ve had in six years. We had 35 vendors,” Lursen said.

Harvest Fest also marked the end of the Artisan and Farmers Market.

The recent garage sale was sold out and had 30 vendors.

A trick-or-treat trail will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Lakeside Park. Fifteen businesses will take part in handing out candy.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. If you or your organization would like to participate, contact the Syracuse Community Center at (574) 457-3440.

Later that night, a “haunted woods” will take place from 6:30-9 p.m. at Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation. The Wawasee High School FFA will help with the latter.

Registration for this season’s basketball league will open Nov. 4. The league is open to the first eight teams. Call or visit the SCC to register.

The next park board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at SCC.