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Board hears Rivers Edge progress and Robert's Park redesign, approves grant applications
Summary
Board members heard that Rivers Edge is about 90% complete with a March 28 groundbreaking and reviewed Robert's Park plans funded in part by a $5 million Lilly gift; the board authorized applying for a $1 million Lowe's grant and a separate ~ $200,000 EECBG opportunity.
Parks staff updated the Board of Public Works and Safety on March 16 about two major recreation projects and asked permission to pursue grant funding for restroom and infrastructure upgrades.
The board heard that Rivers Edge construction is roughly 90% complete and that a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for March 28 at 2:00 p.m., to be followed by the soccer season opening and a community Easter egg hunt, the parks presenter said.
Robert's Park will be rebuilt with funding that includes a $5 million Lilly gift grant. The proposed plan calls for three baseball fields with turf infields, a central inclusive playground (a "Volo Air" unit by Landscape Structures), a skate park and pump track, an 8-foot-wide walking path of about two miles, expanded parking, completed concession/restroom spaces, and a re-sequenced layout intended to improve sightlines and safety for parents.
"We're at 90% construction," the presenter said of Rivers Edge, and described a playground relocation prompted by safety and modern-playground standards: "The playground moved ... we had to tear it down because it was not built to any playground standard." Parks staff also explained that some memorial trees must be removed before March 30 because of Indiana bat protections and that displaced memorials will be replanted near the playground area after construction.
On funding, parks staff asked for permission to apply for two grants: a Lowe's grant (described in the presentation as a $1 million opportunity with no cash match required and potential in-kind support from Lowe's employees) and an EECBG-related opportunity administered by a company called IKIOS that would provide up to $200,000; staff said offering a $50,000 local match would strengthen that application's chances. The board voted to authorize staff to apply for both grants.
Board members praised the projects as community assets and supported the grant applications. The board approved the grant-application permissions by voice vote.
