Park board: Let's get going!

PRINCETON — Members of the Princeton Park Board are frustrated with the amount of time taken to get moving on the Zearing Park expansion project.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the park board discussed the lack of progress on the Zearing Park project, which involves the development of 37.6 acres adjacent to the south edge of the park. Originally, the park board had hoped earthwork would start this summer.

With summer now almost finished, the park board is still waiting on final design drawings from the engineer before the board can go out for bids on the needed earthwork.

Board member Carl Pacunas said the longer the project is delayed, the more costs and expenses go up. Also, spring is not the best time to start the earthwork because of spring rains and mud, he said.

The Chamlin & Associates engineer is not making the Zearing project his No. 1 priority, as promised, Pacunas said. Any adjustments to the proposed concession stand, as discussed in recent weeks, should not have delayed the earthwork, he said.

“This is taxpayer money we’re talking about here,” Pacunas said. “Am I the only one who feels this way, that we’re spending taxpayer money by allowing this project to get delayed?”

Board members Gene Englehart, Dick Volker and Wayne Stone all expressed the need to get moving on the project.

The park board needs to get the needed information, including the drawings and a time line, so board members can study the information before the next meeting, Stone said.

Director Elaine Russell said the engineer has offered to meet with the board prior to the next regular meeting and has also gotten the needed drawings completed.

In other business, Russell said the park district was cited in early August by the Illinois Department of Labor Inspections because of the confined “pit” spaces adjacent to the Alexander Park and Metro Center swimming pool sites. The pits handle the mechanics of the swimming pools. The park district needs several items to bring those pits up to code, including a hoist, winch, harnesses, gas monitor and calibration kit. The total amount of the upgrades is estimated at about $8,000.