A facelift at VanMeter Park and a new concession stand at the Ebbe Sports Complex were the main topics of discussion during a meeting of the Trenton Park Board Tuesday night.
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A facelift at VanMeter Park and a new concession stand at the Ebbe Sports Complex were the main topics of discussion during a meeting of the Trenton Park Board Tuesday night.
Board members Frank Kinney and Duane Helmandollar had been charged with coming up with a plan to make VanMeter Park more usable to the public. Under the plan presented, the park would be reconfigured to include a parking lot located on its west side, off Kavanaugh Street, with a few handicapped accessible spaces located on the south side, off Second Street, and several more spaces on the east side, off Maupin Street. On the grassy area currently fenced in, a tee-ball field and under -six regulation soccer field would be developed, allowing for tee-ball games to be held there during the TBA ball season. The current basketball court would remain, as would the shelter house. The playground area would be changed somewhat and older playground equipment would be removed. The Preceptor Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority is teaming up with the Trenton Rotary Club to raise funds for the purchase of new equipment at the park. An eight-foot by 12-foot building is also planned for the future to house a concession stand, with restrooms also needed in the park.
VanMeter Park has been a topic of discussion at board meetings for several years, mostly because it has been somewhat neglected and underused. Parking has always been an issue because Kavanaugh Street is used as an ambulance route to Wright Memorial Hospital and parking on that street poses as safety hazard. By creating off-street parking, board members feel the park can be better utilized.
Kinney and Helmandollar said the relocation of the tee-ball field from Lower Moberly Field to VanMeter would help ease problems that occur by having both the boys and girls PeeWee League games held at Upper Moberly Field. If the tee-ball field is moved, one of the Pee Wee Leagues could move their games to the lower field, easing scheduling difficulties. It was noted that dugouts would have to be constructed at VanMeter as there currently are none.
Park Superintendent Jason Shuler said he does not have any cost estimates on revamping the park, but he will be attempting to put those figures together in the coming weeks. Among the needs would be tubing along portions of the streets surrounding the park, fencing, as well as gravel (and eventually asphalt) for the parking lot.
Bids for a new concession stand at the Ebbe Sports Complex were accepted, with Grundy County Lumber submitting the only bid for a 12-foot by 24-foot completed building. The bid, which was for $5,950, includes the completed building, but not the electrical work. Frank Clodfelter volunteered the Green Hills Good Sams to do the wiring, with the board supplying the materials. Trenton Transit Mix submitted the low bid of $50 per yard for the concrete for the project, with about eight yards needed. The project will be paid for through the Ebbe Estate, which currently totals $32,869.19.
The board agreed to allow the Green Hills Good Sams to donate a tree in memory of Gene Hutchinson, with a plaque to be placed at the tree rather than in one designated area in each park. Board members made the exception, they said, because of Hutchinson?s commitment to the park system during his life. The tree will be placed in the Ebbe Sports Complex area.
Shuler gave his report, noting that the Rock Barn Courtyard roofing project is about 75 percent complete, with work continuing as time allows. Shuler said trees have been removed in Moberly Park and at the Rock Barn as part of the Trim 2 Grant, with about 40 trees to be planted at the park and five near the livestock pavilion at the fairgrounds. Shuler gave credit to employees of Trenton Municipal Utilities, who assisted in removing the trees.
Shuler told the board that the North Central Missouri College baseball coaches have requested that the dugouts at Burleigh Grimes Field be enlarged to accommodate the large number of players who travel with college teams. Shuler noted that the NCMC program is planning to hold a college baseball tournament in the spring. Board members discussed the issue, with Chuck Lankheit saying he feels that if the college is the only team that needs the dugouts enlarged, they should be the ones to pay for it. Other members and Sampson said it should be remembered that activities such as a tournament are considered economic development because of the large number of persons they bring to town. Shuler, who said it would cost approximately $500 to enlarge the dugouts, was authorized to get more information.
In other business, the board voted to allow the Rock Barn to be used as a polling place for Fourth Ward voters during elections at no charge and accepted the resignation of Jeff Spencer from the board.
An executive session was held to discuss real estate, with no announcement made.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5.