07-02-13 PARC - Laserfiche WebLink

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PARC COMMITTEE JULY 2, 2013 5:42 P.M. Committee Members Present: Henry Davis, Gavin Ferlic, Dr. Fred Ferlic (5:20 & 5 :40) Citizen Members Present: John Whitty, Cheri Richmond Other Present: Sign -in sheet attached (18) Agenda: Kennedy Park Plan "Late start due to locked doors at facility" Henry Davis, Chairman of the PARC Committee called this special meeting of his committee to draw attention to the need for facilities and programming at Kennedy Park. The park is in second councilmanic district which he represents. For the convenience of nearby residents, Henry held the meeting at the South Bend Animal Care Facility at 521 Eclipse Place. Henry also wanted to give a neighborhood ad hoc group called the Northwest Community Focus Group, which has been meeting for the last couple of years, an opportunity to present their Kennedy Park Plan. Jerry Niezgodski, neighborhood activist and Rhonda Neal spokesperson for the focus group led the discussion. Jointly they spoke of the groups coming together to address needs in Kennedy Park during the course of the last couple of years. To help illustrate their plan Rhonda distributed a conceptual plan developed with the help of John Martinez from the Park Department (attached). Jerry primarily spoke to the physical needs in the park seen in the conceptual diagram. The list included basic playground equipment, a walkway, as many as there pavilions and grilles, improved tennis courts, and new basketball courts. Jerry recognized that more input from nearby residents would be needed before committing to the courts. Rhonda Neal spoke from the heart about the need and desire of neighborhood folks to have a clean, safe, welcoming park. One where kids can play and families can gather without going cross town. She also said she appreciated the Park Departments help putting together the plan. She also said she realized it can't happen overnight; but people need a sign of hope. Henry Davis asked if there was a timeline for realizing improvements. He then asked Park Superintendent Phil St. Clair of there was a cost estimate. Phil said like all park needs across the City, everything depends upon funding. For Kennedy he saw a 3 to 5 year plan starting with grilles. A price tag for all Kennedy improvements would approach a half million dollars. Henry asked whether getting playground equipment could start now. Both Phil St. Clair and John Martinez said Park Board approval would be required the equipment all requiring ADA compliance could