Published: May 21, 2009 01:55 pm      

Big plans, lots of small parks in Jeffersonville

City asks for input; gets very little

A BMX bike dirt track at Highland Park. A new gym floor at Nachand Fieldhouse. And a new 300- to 400-acre park with everything from a golf course to a walking track.

Those are just a few of the dozens of ideas included in an update of the Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year master plan.

Key details of the plan include:

• New or improved playground equipment at many of the city’s parks;

• A large new community park on the north end of the city;

• A new nature park near the Ohio River across from Perrin Pointe;

• Restrooms at Connie Sellmer Park;

• New basketball goals, picnic tables and resurfaced tennis courts at Optimist Club Park;

• A new shelter house at Ewing Lane Park;

• A sand volleyball court at Vissing Park; and

• Restrooms at Warder Park.

City officials presented the plan during a public input gathering session Wednesday night.

“The master plan has preliminary approval but [state officials] wanted us to hold another public meeting to get more input,” said Josh Hillman, with the engineering firm Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz.

“What do [residents] want to see out of their parks system?” Hillman asked. “Are the goals of the community the same as they were before?”

The input was minimal, however, as only one resident showed up. Still, parks officials will now move forward with getting Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ approval for the plan, thus qualifying the department for grant opportunities.

Though he wasn’t present Wednesday night, Mayor Tom Galligan has talked about his wish for a new, large-scale park in the city with open fields, a pond, a long trail for runners and dog walkers and other features.

Parks Superintendent Bob Manor said that vision was an exciting prospect.

“I think it would be nice to have a big ol’ park like that,” Manor said.

He admitted, however, that the city’s park system wasn’t well-utilized by residents — “not nearly as much as I’d like to see them used.”

Asked why, he said, “I wish I knew that. The more they’re used, the better.”

Mike Hutt, a former city council candidate and regular at city government meetings, was the only resident who showed up for the session.

“A big park would be nice, if we can afford it,” Hutt said.

He noted that many of the city’s parks are nothing more than parcels of land. For example Gallahart Park, at the corner of Chestnut Street and Division Street, is just a plot of grass.

“Get rid of some of these small parcels that nobody uses, take that money and buy a big park,” he said.

The master plan will be posted on the city’s Web site, cityofjeff.net, within the next three to four weeks, following state approval.