Parks board says Roberts Park infields will be turf; parking lot work to close soccer-complex lot through August

The Connersville Parks and Recreation board on Wednesday received a detailed construction update for Roberts Park, where infield surfaces will be converted to synthetic turf while outfields remain grass.

"The infields will be turf. The outfields will be grass," Superintendent Marla said, describing work already under way at Rivers Edge, where lights have been installed and field outlines dug. She said turf will reduce cancellations caused by muddy conditions.

Marla told the board the parking lot at the soccer complex off Veterans Drive will be closed "this next week" for reconstruction and will likely remain closed until about August so the work is completed in time for the fall soccer season. "So, for probably about a month or so, the parking lot will be closed off," she said.

Work has also begun on the skate park and pump track at Roberts Park. Marla said groundwork is complete and the skate-park construction should begin in July; the area is already fenced off.

The board addressed concerns about trees in the park. Marla said there are 411 trees in the park and that roughly 30 trees in the playground area will be removed, 10–11 trees will be relocated within the park, and 35 new trees will be planted to replace removed specimens. "We will be putting in 35 trees," she said, adding that only one or two trees adjacent to the walking path will be removed because they are disease-infested.

Board members did not take any additional formal action on the project during the meeting. The parking-lot closure, turf installation and skate-park work are scheduled to proceed under the town's existing project plan; Marla asked residents to avoid the closed areas while construction is under way.

The board approved claims and payroll later in the meeting by voice vote, and then adjourned.