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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Mr. Perri went on,Another project that is in the works is some of the riverfront connectivity. A lot <br /> of people relate to the river walk that is on the North Side. There is actually a river walk on the <br /> South Side of the street too but it is very overgrown and trees have ruined the integrity of the walk <br /> way. It is also just not a comfortable walk. It is narrow and cars fly by there. We are working with <br /> Public Works who is taking a lead on looking at possible property acquisitions along that right-of- <br /> way. We want to widen that trail from Twyckenham to Sample. We know people use the river <br /> walk when it loops systems.Now you can have a nice loop right there. It connects a lot of the south <br /> east neighborhood to the rest of the great river walk which we like as a prospect. We are in the <br /> early stages of property acquisition. I know there has been conversation Downstate already and <br /> this is more than likely a 2019 project. <br /> Ms. Skibins stated,When you see work out there this fall, it won't necessarily be for the sidewalk. <br /> It will be because there is a repaving project and as a function of the repaving, we are moving the <br /> curb line in. That will allow the sidewalk to be wider. <br /> Mr. Perri continued, I threw this picture up just so you can understand how densely populated this <br /> area is around Randolph and it is one(1)tiny park that services it all. It is actually called Randolph <br /> Mini Park. We want to graduate it from a mini park to a full on adult park. What we have right <br /> now on the property acquisition list is that blue parcel. We would like to pursue a closure of that <br /> alley by Sampson and be able to link both sides of the property into something more like this. We <br /> hear basketball is a great need in that neighborhood so we have been doing these half-court <br /> basketball courts. Kelly Park is a great example of those. They face away from each other and it <br /> allows two (2) games to be going on, one (1) with little kids and one (1) with bigger kids to play <br /> on separate courts.There will be a small pavilion in the middle.We plan to relocate the playground <br /> on the other side where there is a little bit more. That is kind of the plan for that neighborhood <br /> park. Up north of that is another retention basin. We are wondering if we are able to put a couple <br /> soccer goals in the retention basin. <br /> Mr. Perri went on,Also in the third(3rd)district is the most marquee park in the City: Potawatomi. <br /> We are renewing our public-private partnership with the Zoological Society. It's hard to believe <br /> but the old one (1) expires at the end of this year so we have been renegotiating. Part of that <br /> renegotiation will include $5 million for capital investments. That will help with the new entrance <br /> and new exhibits. Interestingly enough, Rod Goodchild got his flag request granted. <br /> Mr. Perri continued, There are a couple of other things in the third (3rd) district I would like to <br /> highlight. South East Park, which has gotten some good investment over the last few years with <br /> the splash pad, is being upgraded. We are upgrading all the restrooms in every single park to be <br /> ADA compliant. None of them currently are. We also have a partnership with the Society of <br /> Women Engineers out at the University of Notre Dame who will be piloting Wi-Fi at this park. <br /> We eventually would like to get to a point where we have Wi-Fi in all our parks. Our hope is to <br /> close that digital divide. The last park in the third (3rd) district I will mention is Veteran's <br /> Memorial. It saw major improvement to its softball field thanks to a partnership with IUSB. They <br /> use it as their home softball field. They use it about twenty-one (2 1)days a year and the rest of the <br /> year it is a public park for all of us to enjoy. I would like to come back and do this sort of <br /> presentation for each district. <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 If 574.235.9173 1 TFD 574.235.5567 I www.southbendin.gov <br /> 3 <br />