Members of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation  Department’s Board of Directors met Monday evening at Cedar Park, and heard from a Boy Scout who made the Bandshell at Sunnyside Park, the subject of his efforts to earn his Eagle Scout badge. Talon Gaines said he and others first raked away all the old mulch and threw it away. Next up was edging around the area to prepare it for new mulch. New holes were dug for the planting of flowers that will bloom every year. New dirt was also added. He’s been making sure the new plants are watered on a consistent basis. The bandshell has been used by nearly a dozen organizations so far this year, for their various special events.

In other business, Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen said the waterless restroom at the Schildberg Recreation Area has been vandalized by fireworks, ripping things up and the smearing of feces. As a way to try and find who the culprits are and deter others from thinking they can get away with vandalism, the Parks Dept., Bryant said, is working with Nishna Net to get a camera surveillance system set up. There will be three different cameras monitoring the parking lot, shelter and waterless restroom. AMU, he said, has sunk a pole to mount the cameras, and Berg Electric was working on the electric hookups, Monday. The final step is to have Nishna Net sync the cameras in with their program. Rasmussen said there are other cameras already in place to cover separate areas of the park, including the campground and trail.

With regard to Sunnyside Pool, Rasmussen said ACCO came out and determined the leakage the pool was experiencing that caused a delay in its opening, was not a structural problem. It was a problem with the caulk drying out, apparently from lack of use last year, due to COVID. The pool has been open since last Thursday, and seeing good attendance numbers.  Bryant said the Parks & Rec Department has two programs underway this summer: Tennis and Swimming.

Art in the Park takes place every Wednesday from 9-until 10-a.m. About 25 kids show up for the experience each. The next program is this Wed.,  June 23rd, at Cedar Park. This week, they’re building rockets out of 2-liter bottles that they will shoot off next week. Jazzercise at Sunnyside Park  takes place Saturday’s at 8:30-a.m. in Sunnyside Park. The program has some good attendance numbers, but there’s still room for many more people.

Rasmussen said also, they will soon have three kayaks available for use, courtesy a donation from Elkhart Plastics. They will be available as soon as legal waivers are finalized. The user would have to supply their paddle and life jacket. There are approximately 33 other items for you to use, including bicycles, most free of charge. Simply contact the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. to make your reservation.  And, the Walkability Maps are almost finished for publication. They will be available at the park kiosks and the Atlantic Chamber, to name a few of the locations.

Unfortunately, Bryant said there wasn’t enough interest to generate co-ed softball games, but there are some other plans in the works to make the activity available through the Parks Dept.  And, the Parks Board extended its gratitude to the Royal Neighbors, Atlantic Rising and Trees Forever, for their efforts to beautify the parks through gardening, and the planting of trees.