Council reviews park plan

As part of the Superior City Council meeting held Monday, preliminary plans for the parks and recreation master plan was reviewed.

The plan currently calls for upgrading the sidewalks at City Park to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standard and the creating of a walking path around the park.

The plan also includes the construction of a full basketball court and a splash pad. The tentative location of the splash pad is near the present filter and pump house. Yet to be determined is what to do with the water used by the splash pad. Three alternatives are being considered. The proposal with the least starting cost is simply to draw the water from the city main and release it back into the creek which runs beneath the park. However, long term that plan uses a lot of water. Another proposal calls for circulating the water through the swimming pool’s sand filter, adding chlorine and returning to the splash pad. The third alternative is to store the water and use it to water the grass and flowers in the park.

It is proposed solar shades be added in the area immediately south of the baby pool and the conversion of the old basketball area in front of the bandstand into a covered picnic area. The veterans monuments will remain in their present location but the flag poles near the soldiers and sailors monument would be replaced and permanent seating be added at that location.

Cost estimates for the proposed work have not yet been finalized.

One of the most interesting proposals presented Monday was the possible joint agreement with the Superior Schools to share in the use of a turf tank. The turf tank was described as a robotic striping machine that utilized GPS location. The unit would allow the school and the parks department to stripe the ball fields and the street department to stripe the streets and crosswalks.

Since the retirement of the local contractor who operated the Right Stripe business, the cost of painting the streets each year has nearly doubled.

A decision has not yet been made but from the information presented, it appears the use of the painting robot would cut striping costs about in half.

For safety reasons, the robot would only be operated with someone present to supervise its operation.

The council approved the sale of a Project Boom house on West Eighth Street to Abby Fish for $120,000. The $129,000 cost was paid in part with grant funds and the proceeds received will be used to provide additional housing opportunities within the community.

The council approved providing annual memberships in the Total Fitness Gym for city employees. The cost will be $6,060 per year. Employee use of the gym will be tracked and evaluated before renewing the commitment.

An ordinance changing the zoning of the housing properties directly west of the Dana Cole office on East Third Street was approved. The zoning is being changed from general commercial to medium density residential.