Sugar Creek Township Park could use a little more attention from board leadership, residents say.
Kristy Deer | Daily Reporter
NEW PALESTINE — From missing pieces of wood on shelters and benches to dangerous holes beside the playground, some residents who visit Sugar Creek Township Park say it needs regular attention and more maintenance.
Jayson Combs is slated to be the newly elected Sugar Creek Township Trustee on the first of the new year after his uncontested race in the Nov. 8 general election. He was also uncontested in the primary last spring and said positive changes in how the park is looked after need to happen.
Combs noted he’s heard too many complaints about the park’s board not meeting, not returning phone calls or dealing with issues at the park promptly, and he plans to address those problems as soon as possible.
“I’m quite frustrated with that board to be honest with you,” Combs said.
The parks board is composed of a three-person volunteer group consisting of board president Scott Miller and members Michael Long and Marie Castetter. Miller is supposed to call for meetings when the need arises. The group however is only meeting to settle budget needs or approve funds.
While Combs said it’s one of those thankless jobs, he hopes to see the board meeting at least every other month when he takes over the trustee duties from outgoing trustee Bob Boyer at the first of the year.
Boyer, Combs noted, has done a good job over the past several years, however health issues have kept him from staying on top of the parks board like he normally would have.
The park operates on an estimated $74,300 budget with most of the money going toward keeping the grounds cut and the trash removed, set expenditures. However, because it’s frequently used and attracts crowds, Combs said issues pop up all the time.
Local residents reached out to the Daily Reporter noting the parks board hadn’t met in months and was not returning calls or emails about issues at the park, something Combs said he had also been made aware of.
“I did pin them down and we’re going to meet Tuesday, Nov. 1, and I’ve kind of told them I want them to meet every other month no matter what,” Combs said.
Combs doesn’t like the idea of not having a set schedule for the parks board and said meeting on a whim isn’t what is best for the community.
The facility located at 4136 S. 700W, New Palestine, is 88 acres with 35 of those acres having been developed. There are walking trails, soccer fields, shelters, a dog park, a kickball field and a play ground. However, residents in the area who frequent the park say everything there could use a little TLC, regular care.
“I’ve been over at that park fixing things on my own,” Combs said. “But, we need to stay on top of things there better and I can certainly see that park needs more attention and I plan on doing more.”
Unfortunately, the park has had a fair share of vandalism issues throughout its 13 years. Combs however said the board has to do a better job of accepting help from volunteers, keeping a better eye on the park and making sure work is done correctly.
“We’ve had some groups, including Elanco and some local Girl Scouts, who have reached out and wanted to volunteer, and this board hasn’t been good about accepting their help,” Combs said. “If you have a volunteer group, you do not turn them away.”
Deputy trustee Tonya Willis said she and Combs have talked, and they planned to get some of the easier projects dealt with as soon as possible, and have already added a missing bench on one of the picnic tables after the Daily Reporter alerted them to the issue.
Combs noted he hopes to be able to get an increase in state funding to help run the park more effectively, but he’s yet to hear back from state officials whom he has already contacted.
An email to Miller was not returned by press time.
