POLAND Park to upgrade without grant

The board will soon be accepting bids for the work.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The Poland Parks and Recreational Board will move forward with approved additions and upgrades to Fireman's Field without a $10,000 grant offered by one village resident.
The board turned down the $10,000 offered by resident John Scotford because the donation came with several stipulations to changes in the fields' landscaping that the board could not accept. Board member Cloy Stewart said upgrades and a site plan have already been approved and cannot be changed.
According to Stewart, Scotford's plan would have called for the moving of trees and a boccie court, along with the removal of some parking, landscaping and a handicapped-accessible driveway to the pavilion. Board members said this redesigning would have a "cascading effect in other areas," potentially requiring additional funding.
"It's hard to turn down 10 grand," said Stewart. "We would still love to accept his donation, but we would like to use it for the existing site plan. We will be writing a letter and submitting that formally to him."
Site plan: In a letter submitted to village council Tuesday, board members contend that the current site plan, already accepted by council, was developed with an understanding of the historic reasoning behind the creation of the field. The plan, they say, attempts to maximize green space, total community use and has aesthetic qualities to enhance the surrounding area.
Most of what is included in the accepted site plan is already in place at the field, including a pavilion, baseball field, boccie court, swing set, volleyball and kids play areas. The main upgrades will come in the form of additional landscaping, restrooms and a basketball court that can be flooded in the winter for ice skating.
Stewart said the flooded baseball court is a modern means of keeping with tradition in the village, where residents always had frozen ponds to skate on.
The board will be accepting bids for work at the field in the near future.
Board members have also submitted plans to council for approval to dedicate the pavilion at the field to Charlie Smith.
jgoodwin@vindy.com