Graylin Porter - Reporter
The Harrison County commissioners have sent a request of $3 million dollars onto the council. Harrison County prosecutor Otto Schalk presented on behalf of the Harrison County Parks Department stating that
“we all saw a desperate deficiency in our playgrounds.”
Schalk spoke directly to the county's need for more inclusive playgrounds, noting that "the playgrounds in Harrison County were terribly deficient, they were outdated, small, and worn out at best." The proposed accessible, all-inclusive playground has been in the planning process since 2019 and will be at Hayswood Park. Commercial Recreation Group out of Noblesville, Indiana has designed the project (see renderings here). Schalk has asked that this project be paid for with funding Harrison County has received via the American Rescue Plan and Schalk admitted that “this is a massive project.”
Other sources of funding are being considered including the Harrison County Community Foundation and “significant outside funding as well.” Schalk emphasized the importance of an immediate committment from the county "because every day that we wait continues to get more expensive due to the astronomical increase in inflation.” The goal is to have the project funded by August 1st, which will result in a June 1, 2023 opening date.
Commissioner Nelson Stepro said that “It’s not my place to say whether we can afford it or not, but it’s my place to decide whether I think it’s a worthy project, and I think everybody would agree that it’s a worthy project.” Stepro made the motion to send it to council.