The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department has received a donation of hockey gear from a youth hockey organization in Illinois. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen told the Parks Board, Monday, that the Chicago Jets Hockey Club donated the gear, including pucks, sticks, skates and other items. The Club will donate additional hockey sticks this coming Spring. The Board signed a card/letter of Thanks for the generous donations.

Another donation for the Parks & Rec Department, this one in the form of cash, came from Brad Rasmussen. The funds were a combination of monies collected for his wife, who is a member of a local Birthday Club, and a woman whose tree was decorated by Bryant Rasmussen and his dad, Brad. Other proceeds came from the sale of a book Brad Rasmussen has written.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board approved the purchase of a snow plow blade for the Department’s 1/2-ton pickup. The basic blade with inside controls, will allow employees to stay warm in their truck while at the same time clearing the Bull Creek Pathway and the Schildberg Rec Area (SRA).

Speaking of the SRA, Rasmussen said the porta-potties have been removed. A waterless restroom is still open, and the bath house will re-open during warmer weather. Rasmussen said also, Parks Foreman Kyler Welter has been busy creating 10 raised garden beds for installation this Spring at the Mollett Park, on East 3rd Street Place. One of the beds will be maintained by the Parks and Rec Department, the others will be on a first-come first-served basis. The beds are wood with metal sheeting on the sides. They will eventually be filled with mulch and top soil in preparation for planting.

And, Rasmussen said they’re finalizing a New Year’s Resolution “Park Challenge.” He said “There’s so many things that we offer within our parks system,” (such as the SRA). The challenge will incorporate 25 things people can do, with one item coming from every park, almost like a Savenger Hunt. When all the elements are collected or recorded, Parks users would be eligible for $25 in Chamber Bucks. Additional details are forthcoming on the Challenge.