Logansport City parks staff say clubhouse on track for Memorial Day; outreach van being fitted for programs

Logansport City Parks Board members heard progress updates Thursday from parks staff on the new clubhouse, program logistics and early-season operations. Parks staff said the clubhouse is still scheduled for delivery by Memorial Day, and a city vehicle is being converted to serve as a mobile program van with shelving, lighting and branding to support outreach around town.

The updates matter because the clubhouse and the outreach vehicle will affect how the parks department stages programs, manages equipment and handles visitor traffic this summer. Staff described how the changes are intended to reduce setup time, improve visibility for programs and support growing use of parks facilities.

“We're on schedule. There's still the goal is a Memorial Day delivery,” Mr. Viede, a parks department staff member, told the board, noting construction tasks remaining include drywall and utility hookups. He said staff expect to occupy the clubhouse by Memorial Day though “there could be a couple of hiccups.”

On outreach and programming, parks staff said they are converting a van so program supplies can be stored and transported more easily. “We got the lights put into it and the inverter, and we're starting to build out the shelves and the tote situation,” said Kara, a parks staff member. Kara added the van will carry logos and act as a visible promotion as it moves through the city and will allow staff to avoid loading equipment each week.

Board members and staff also described routine course and park operations as the city moves into warmer weather. Dean, a parks maintenance staff member, said crews are balancing clubhouse-related work with typical spring maintenance tasks and that the driving range and course clean-up are underway. The department reported selling 41 season tickets so far this year; staff said that figure compares with 287 total season tickets sold last year.

The board noted fields at the Babe Ruth facility are used by local middle and high schools under a cost arrangement. An unnamed board member said the schools provide the department with two skids of field dry each year as part of their use of that facility.

Visitors' comments included a request about family passes and fireworks signage. Parks staff said about 200 swipes remain available for promotional passes and acknowledged ongoing problems with people bringing fireworks into park spaces. Several board members and staff thanked maintenance and programming staff for their work preparing facilities for summer.

Staff proposed a walkthrough of the nearly completed clubhouse for board members and fundraising volunteers; the board discussed scheduling but did not take a formal vote on any item during the update session. The meeting concluded with board members praising parks staff and adjourning at 6:39 p.m.