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Board approves series of park upgrades, accessibility improvements and backing for extended riverfront camping
Summary
The Attica Parks and Trails Board approved multiple small capital projects (pavilion floor repair, stump removal, Wabash Overlook rehab), accepted Community Foundation funding for playground and concrete work, authorized donor outreach for handicap swings, and expressed unanimous support for extending riverfront camping with smartphone reservations.
The Attica Parks and Trails Board authorized a package of maintenance and accessibility projects and signaled support for a change to riverfront camping rules during its meeting.
Board business included: authorizing up to $4,000 to repair a long crack in the big pavilion floor to remove a trip hazard; approving $1,300 for one day of stump removal beginning at Central Ravine Park with city maintenance handling cleanup; and approving up to $3,000 to rehab the Wabash Overlook (cleaning, staining and capstone work). The board also approved seeking donors to fund handicap‑accessible swings and a pathway in Ravine Park after determining that some grant programs exclude equipment for physically disabled users.
Separately, the board voted to accept Community Foundation‑funded improvements for playground and park infrastructure: ADA‑compliant sidewalks, a larger pavilion footprint with a metal roof, concrete pads for trash cans and benches, landscaping, parking adjustments and related items. The chair said concrete work costs were updated and that the revised footprint and the addition of a fourth sidewalk raised some line items to about $24,000, but the overall package remains within the Community Foundation funding and project plan.
On camping, the board unanimously supported recommending an extension of the riverfront camping limit from the existing 3 days to 5 or 7 days, and the adoption of a smartphone reservation/payment system (parkwith.us) that can deliver key codes or allow police to verify paid reservations. Board members discussed fee structures (current ordinance referenced a $20 fee for 3 days and a suggested $10 per day alternative) and logistics for restroom access and key codes. The chair said there are currently five campsites available.
Quotes: "We have the ADA compliance and comfort...we hope to have that all completed before November," the chair said of Wabachi Playground work funded by the Community Foundation ($48,890 listed in the meeting materials). "If someone wants to come to Attica and spend a week...3 days is not very long," a committee member said in arguing for a longer camping window.
Ending: The board combined and approved a slate of Community Foundation‑funded park projects and a series of smaller maintenance items and will move forward with vendor procurement and volunteer coordination; staff will report back on contractor quotes and implementation timing.
