Muncie parks superintendent outlines maintenance and capital needs: restrooms, skate park, splash pad and cameras

Carl Barbala, superintendent of Muncie Parks, told the Parks and Recreation Board at its Feb. 18 meeting that crews have been busy clearing snow and preparing for the department’s spring and summer work, and he outlined several maintenance and capital projects the department is tracking.

Barbala said bids are out for restroom work at Westside Park, Thomas Park and Riverview; he did not identify successful bidders or award dates. He reported ongoing problems at the Westside restroom, where repeated sewer backups prompted private and city contractor work and raised a question about whether the restroom should remain in its current location given planned increases in skate-park use.

Staff also plan to repair Thomas Park’s splash pad. Barbala said the vendor who sold the splash pad will be asked to troubleshoot and identify parts; staff noted minor algae or mold issues last summer and possible drainage and grade problems that reduce runoff into the drain. He said the city will discuss tree trimming and drainage adjustments with urban forestry.

Barbala described progress at the Westside skate park — construction halted by weather but nearing completion when conditions allow — and said scoreboard and lighting plans for softball diamonds remain in limbo while the department explores reusing lights from the Sports Complex and locating private contractors to install lighting and scoreboards.

He said the department will install a new water line at Thomas Park once locators and weather allow; that line was capped after splash-pad work and currently leaves restrooms without running water.

Barbala flagged that park security cameras need upgrading and some cameras have been cut or installed within reach; he said the department will rethink mountings and has been getting requests from the police department for working cameras at Morningside and Hicken. He added that staffing at Perry Creek remains a hiring concern and the department is coordinating with HR to meet timelines for seasonal openings and pier installation.

The superintendent gave attendance figures for a recent resource fair hosted at Minnetrista in which the parks department and partners reached about 96 attendees that weekend; the weekend programming included resume workshops, financial literacy and entrepreneurship sessions.

Barbala said several projects — restroom bids, splash pad repairs, scoreboard replacements and camera upgrades — are at stages requiring vendor quotes or further design; he gave no firm dates for completion beyond that some restroom work is expected in 2025 once bids are awarded.

The board did not take formal votes on these maintenance items during the meeting; staff were directed to continue procurement and vendor coordination.