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Superintendent reports: boardwalk retrofit, community garden upgrades, golf hires and vandalism
Summary
Superintendent updated the board on an upcoming retrofit of the boardwalk (design firm to pay for correction), construction of a storage shed and utilities at Walker Street Community Garden funded by a CDBG grant, hiring a PGA pro for golf operations, a new pesticide license for the green superintendent and minor graffiti vandalism at Pullman.
At the Feb. 19 meeting, Michigan City Parks and Recreation leadership reported several operations and maintenance items:
- Boardwalk retrofit: Superintendent said a retrofit on the boardwalk will start next week and is expected to take eight to ten weeks depending on weather. The work responds to a design flaw that left the structure without proper vehicle load capacity for maintenance equipment; the design and engineering firm will pay for the retrofit.
- Walker Street Community Garden: Staff are working with the city IT/building division to construct a storage shed, install electric service and add security cameras at the Walker Street Community Garden; work will be funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
- Town halls: Parks staff attended a well‑attended mayoral town hall (reported attendance about 80 people) as part of a citywide series; staff said this provides a forum to share information on upcoming legislation, policy changes and events.
- Golf operations hires and certifications: The department hired a new PGA professional, Michael Nygren, who started that morning and will be trained before the March 15 opening date. Green superintendent Michael Moore obtained a pesticide license; staff said that holding two licenses next year will allow the department to end an external spray‑tech contract and save roughly $40,000 annually.
- Vandalism: Staff reported minor graffiti at Pullman on Feb. 10; removal cost was $35.
Why it matters: The retrofit and garden improvements address maintenance and security needs; the golf hires and in‑house licensing aim to improve operations and reduce contract costs. The reported vandalism is a minor operations cost.
What’s next: Boardwalk work to begin the week following the meeting subject to weather; staff will continue CDBG‑funded work at the community garden and train new golf staff ahead of the season opener.
