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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> to make that transition meet current compliance. Our restrooms had met compliance when they
<br /> were built, but, as you know, that changes periodically. Now, we will be all up to the current
<br /> standard. We are also midway under design for athletic courts such as tennis,basketball and pickle
<br /> ball, in order to maintain, renovate and resurface our existing courts.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, So, in Ravina, is there a bridge or not? I missed that.
<br /> Mr. Martinez replied, I'm not clear on the thought process of why it was removed but I will tell
<br /> you the connectivity was completely gone. But, across the park, there was no easy way to make
<br /> that accessible. It is accessible, now, at all four (4) sides due to the sidewalk structure the Public
<br /> Works team put in.
<br /> Councilmember Broden followed up,And then Unity Gardens,do they still have an area there they
<br /> are using?
<br /> Mr. Martinez replied, The backside doesn't see a lot of use. It had some use two (2) years ago but
<br /> there are no amenities put in by the City of South Bend, to draw users to that side of the park.
<br /> Kara Boyles, City Engineer for the City of South Bend with offices located on the 13th floor of the
<br /> County-City Building, stated, I will say, to the bridge question, the purpose and need, I believe,
<br /> by the neighbors, is really just to have a viewpoint and access to be able to be near the creek. The
<br /> overlook does give that opportunity and the actual cost to replace the bridge was estimated to be
<br /> $30,000 - $40,000 and when it came down to it, it was about ten(10)times that to be able to build
<br /> a bridge. This was a partnership project with the Pokagon Band, so, we received a $100,000
<br /> donation from them to do this project. So, we are just trying to keep it within budget.
<br /> Councilmember Broden then asked, Did that partnership stay in place and is it tied specifically to
<br /> this park and these amenities put in?
<br /> Ms. Boyles confirmed, Yes.
<br /> Mr. Perri stated, You do have an outline in front of you on that half sheet (which is available in
<br /> the City Clerk's Office)as a road map for all of the improvements to the neighborhood parks.They
<br /> are going to celebrate these on two (2) separate press events.You'll get the press releases soon but
<br /> March 27th at 1:00 p.m. at Rum Village we will be celebrating the restroom groundbreaking. Then
<br /> the playgrounds upgrades will be April 4th at 10:00 a.m. at Main Park. We will circulate that
<br /> information.
<br /> Kory Lantz, 615 Cushing Street, stated, I've been a South Bend resident for ten (10) years now
<br /> and am proud of it. Years ago, we noticed some vacant lots in South Bend and I got together with
<br /> Councilmember Scott and we talked about how we could do a dual purpose, helping the lots look
<br /> better while also providing jobs for kids that, in the summer time especially, are just kind of idle.
<br /> I've worked with kids ever since I've been in South Bend, that is my passion and my heart, and I
<br /> was trying to do a lot of stuff with them through mentoring and myself, personally, but they were
<br /> still having idle time because I have my own family and I couldn't spend twenty-four (24) days a
<br /> day with over one hundred(100)kids. So,we decided to start a lawncare business and, in fact,we
<br /> actually started with about four(4) properties for the summer. There were three(3) different boys
<br /> that helped get this thing going.They were involved in the whole process and it has taken off since
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY j INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 7-M574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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