Plan commission recommends do‑pass for Oliver Park expansion featuring pavilion and splash pad

City staff and park representatives told the Elkhart City Plan Commission on April 6 that a proposed master plan for improvements to Oliver Park at 626 West Cleveland Avenue would add an open‑air pavilion, off‑street parking, new landscaping, a walking path and a splash pad, based on neighborhood meetings and bilingual outreach.

Jameson Zarki, identified in the record as the parks superintendent, and project manager Matthew Moyers described the splash pad as roughly 40 by 40 feet and said it will use an open‑loop water system that discharges to the city water/sewer system rather than a closed, recirculating chlorinated system. Moyers said that design choice avoids the need for an underground treatment tank and ongoing chemical testing that a closed system would require.

Commissioners raised questions about whether proposed parking would use an unpaved alley and noted the street department’s ongoing paving plans. They also asked about after‑hours lighting; staff said the city plans dark‑sky‑friendly pathway lighting and interior pavilion lighting but does not plan to extend park hours.

The parks staff estimated an ambitious goal for a grand opening at the end of summer. After discussion and limited public comment, the commission voted to recommend a do‑pass to the Board of Zoning Appeals so the project can proceed to the BZA’s public hearing and final decision. Staff emphasized that technical review and specific plan approvals (water, stormwater, grading, roadway) are still required prior to construction.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will go to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a public hearing and final decision; technical reviews and coordination with the street department are required before construction and a potential late‑summer opening.