Members of the Webster City Parks and Recreation Commission heard an update on the city’s parks projects and learned more about what Phase II of the East Twin Park Revitalization could look like. The commission met via Zoom Thursday night.
Recreation and Public Grounds Director Larry Flaws said Habhab Construction had won the bid for the concrete and plumbing work at the West Twin Park shelter and had already been in the park working on the project. Flaws added that the ground work was finished at East Twin Park and the new playground and fitness equipment are just waiting for the poured rubber mat to be installed. He said the company doing the work have rescheduled the procedure due to cold temperatures, but are planning to do the work April 22 if possible.
“The temperatures have to be above 40 degrees for them to pour the rubber,” he said.
Mary Fortune, who has been an active voice in the East Twin Park revitalization project, talked to the commission about the next phase of improvements. She told the commission members that preliminary plans she’s discussed with Flaws include removing the existing brick shelter building, and replacing it with an open shell-style structure with restrooms and a storage area. Flaws suggested placing a smaller, but similar shelter to what will soon be erected in West Twin Park. He said he would get cost comparisons for the commission members.
Fortune said she plans to fundraise for the project as the city has no additional funds budgeted for the park. She added that she would like to see a cement pad that could be used for outdoor fitness classes. Flaws said that with the pad in place, it could be set up for other activities, such as pickleball, when not in use for fitness classes.
Janet Adams and Mark Dohms, representing the Arts R Alive Committee, spoke to the commission members about a plan to create a memorial tribute for the late Kent Harfst, longtime director of recreation and public grounds. Harfst died in a cycling accident in September 2019.
“What we are thinking about is some kind of a public art piece for Kent,” said Janet Adams. “We’ve been looking at a location at Hospital Hill.”
Adams said the piece would be located near the sidewalk on Des Moines Street, near the crest of the hill.
“It would be some sort of sculpture piece or a mediation area,” she said. The committee has sent out requests for proposals to about 15 artists. The deadline to receive responses from the artists is June 10.
“We’ve done some fundraising and are off to a pretty good start with that,” she said. Adams explained that the piece would likely cost between $10,000 to $12,000.
The commission members voted in support of the proposed project. Adams said the city told her that after the parks commission, the matter would need to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and ultimately to the City Council for approval.
Flaws also told the commission that the opening date for the outdoor swimming pool will be Saturday, June 5. He added that the pool would tentatively close on Aug. 22 for the season. He also provided an update on the spring hours for Fuller Hall. The facility would be open, beginning April 26, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Fridays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m.
Lap swimming would be available weekdays from 6 to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Open swimming would be available Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from 7 to 9 p.m.., and Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Swimming would be limited to 20 swimmers at one time.
Other restrictions would still be in place. No parties or birthday parties, classes or group meetings would be allowed. The game room would be open to 10 at a time, as would the TV room. The gym would continue to be open to 20 individuals at one time for free shooting only. Racquetball courts would continue to be open for just racquetball and no walleyball at this time.
View this article as it originally appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: April 16, 2021