Savoy trustees hear Colbert Park update; project about one-third complete

Parks and Recreation Director Nick McDuffee told the Board that the Colbert Park project is "currently at around 35-40% completion." He said the Village is considering adding soccer and baseball fields to serve youth leagues and detailed current usage of other parks: "The Village currently utilizes John L. Jones Park and William A. Smith Park for soccer leagues, which accommodate ages 3-12 and have 233 players currently."

McDuffee, who introduced Greg Crowe of MSA Professional Services, outlined site features under consideration including a security gate and vehicle turnaround, relocated volleyball courts to make room for parking, restrooms, and traffic-flow changes to handle pick-up and drop-off. He also described potential amenities such as an amphitheater, a spray pad, a skate park and a shared-use path through the park. Board members asked about tree acquisition, the distance between the path and the railroad, whether a gate could keep certain park sections open after dusk and the cost of operating the spray pad. Administrator Walton later "discussed funding options, including community donations, and possible grants."