Vigo County —
Weather and unforeseen soil conditions have pushed back a scheduled grand opening ceremony of a new Prairie Creek Park playground until the spring.
The park had originally been scheduled to open today.
However, the park area is expected to be open for public use within 30 days, said Kara Kish, assistant superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
“The project has been plagued by inclement weather and has set our time frame back almost a month,” Kish said.
The project is installing a new playground, swing sets, tennis court, basketball court, parking area and shelters. One unforeseen problem was clay soil, which slowed the installation of the tennis court.
“We had to backfill some of the clay soil that was heavily saturated,” Kish said.
The clay soil retained water and would not support the court. Park officials consulted with Eddie Adams of the USDA’s Soil and Conservation Service on how much soil to remove and what to use as backfill. Adams is also a member of the Vigo County Park Board.
The initial project was to cost $85,000; however, the unforeseen soil problem increased costs of the project about 15 percent. That is still within the park department’s annual amenities improvement budget allocation, Kish added.
The main problem for the park’s time schedule was weather.
“It tended to rain on the week and stop on the weekends and we work during the week,” Kish said.
Kish said replacing soil, even though it caused a delay, was a quick task for the tennis court. The weather, however, was not as cooperative.
“We had expected to complete our tennis court in two weeks. It took us five weeks because we just couldn’t pour until the ground was dry enough. Then once the ground was dry enough, we had to have a couple of days for a window where we could pour” concrete, Kish said.
Another obstacle was available workers.
The project had been expected to be completed before Pioneer Days, an event at Fowler Park. Workers had to stop for a week to prepare for that event. Next week park employees will participate in Mini Pioneer Days, another setback of about a week, Kish said.
“Out of 30 days last month that we were trying to work, we got to really work maybe 10 or 15 days,” Kish said. “The weather brought buckets of rain coming down, or it would come down the day before you wanted to work but the ground was completely saturated,” she said. “It just pushed us back so far and there is nothing we can do about it.”
Kish said the overall park project is about 75 percent complete.
Yet there’s still plenty to do in the next month. The “to-do list” includes:
• Constructing the shelter and covered picnic tables.
• Adding safety surfacing to the playground and swing set areas.
• Finishing the parking lot area. Stone is down, but it needs to be rolled. Parking stops need to be added.
• Applying asphalt sealant to basketball court. Tennis court needs to have a professional surface coating applied.
n Putting down a trail around the site.
“It is a lot to do but [park employees] are accomplishing a lot every day,” Kish said.
Currently, the project area is sectioned off with caution tape and closed for public use. “The public will be invited out as soon as it is completed, but we are going to wait until spring to do a grand opening,” Kish said.
Next year the park department will take on several smaller park projects, Kish said, instead of one big project. In 2011, the park department completed three sites — the George and Ida Smith Park in Prairieton, a small playground in Fowler Park and a small playground in a campground at Prairie Creek Park.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Fun under construction: A new playground at Prairie Creek Park is taking shape as part of renovations at the park in southern Vigo County.
Discussion
Weather delays playground opening: Prairie Creek Park should be finished within 30 days
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
UPDATE: Damage surveys show 2 weak tornadoes hit near Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Weather Service says storm surveys show two weak tornadoes struck central Indiana.
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Today in History May 23
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Today in History May 22
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
