by Frank Lee
operations@thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph Park Board members presented a budget request at the St. Joseph City Council meeting Aug. 22 that included a proposal to build a new park shelter at an estimated cost of about $500,000.
The park board spent more than a year evaluating Millstream Park, which is located north of CSAH 75 and east of CSAH 3 on the northwestern edge of St. Joseph’s city limits, and it reviewed the city’s needs and wants, said John Anderson, a park board member.
“Our purpose here tonight is to give you some insight into what projects we would like to complete in 2017 and submit them for your consideration because we are talking about a serious amount of money,” Anderson said in his opening remarks to the council.
About 32 hours of spring cleaning is required to remove the mold build-up on the park shelter’s ceilings, Anderson said, and there is up to an inch of ice build-up on the floor annually that needs to be thawed in January for the discgolf Ice Bowl, which donates its proceeds to the local food shelf.
Other shelter issues include pavers tipped toward the building so water does not drain properly; the fireplace does not vent properly, resulting in air quality issues; easy access into the building by rodents; cracks in the exterior blocks; and restrooms are not handicapped-accessible.
“Basically, we believe the current shelter has outlived its useful life and a replacement is necessary,” Anderson said of the first phase of the park board’s improvement plan. “We determined our No. 1 priority is the replacement of the park shelter.”
Highlights of a proposed new shelter at Millstream Park include a large shelter to use year-round, kitchen and storage areas, large sitting area with overhang, restroom facilities and the ability to use some areas while locking off others.
“Some of the uses for that facility would be Nordic skiing, snow shoeing, Water Fest, Scout meetings, club meetings, special events, Winterfest, an Ice Bowl Disc Tournament and rental for family gatherings,” Anderson said. “The park board believes if we build it, they will come.”
The estimated cost to build a new park shelter is $450,000. To include a fireplace would cost between $10,000 to $15,000, and the cost for six cement picnic tables would be between $7,500 and $10,000, with an added cost of $15,000 to demolish the old building and $2,000 for gravel.
Based on those figures, the estimated cost for building a new park shelter would cost between $484,500 and $492,000, but the park board is requesting $525,000 from the city council.
“And that does not include donations we have been assured will come from service groups,” Anderson said, “but I can’t put an amount on those yet.”
John Anderson, a member of the St. Joseph Park Board, looks at the costs to build a new park shelter at Millstream Park during his budget request presentation Aug. 22 at the St. Joseph City Council meeting. Mary Munden, a records specialist with the St. Joseph Police Department, looks on.
Millstream Park is located north of CSAH 75 and east of CSAH 3 on the northwestern edge of St. Joseph’s city limits. It’s the site of many proposed projects for next year, the most expensive of which is a new park shelter.
