Harrison County prosecutor Otto Schalk opened his presentation to the county council stating that “no matter how dilapidated or rusty our current playgrounds may be, my kids can still sprint over to them.” In 2019, Schalk was asked by the Harrison County Parks Department to chair a committee dedicated to bringing a fully accessible, all-inclusive playground to Corydon. After putting the project on hold, they have decided to seize an opportunity made possible by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Harrison County currently holds an ARP balance of $6.1 million, but Schalk emphasized that the county will not be the only source of funding for this project. The committee is seeking a 50% matching grant from the Harrison County Community Foundation.
Parks superintendent Larry Shickles provided information on additional playground improvements throughout the county, including two new playgrounds at Buffalo Trace in Palmyra and one at Gresham Park in Lanesville. Shickles estimates the cost of these to be roughly $100,000 each, which is included in the ARP request.
Council member Holli Castetter questioned the size of the proposed playground at Hayswood. At 26,000 sq ft, Castetter stated that “that’s a massive footprint.” Castetter asked if there was a possibility to make it smaller. Schalk’s responded that “this is a playground that Harrison County can be proud of…I could cut the space in half if I used stairs, but then that would defeat the entire purpose of what we’re doing.”