Plymouth Park Board moves forward on Lilly Foundation Grant, approves interim superintendent resolution

The Plymouth Park Board is positioning the city to take advantage of a major new grant opportunity through the Lilly Foundation's Community Parks Initiative, while also approving a resolution to ensure continuity of park department operations when the superintendent is absent.

City Attorney Jeff Houin updated Park Board members earlier this month on the Lilly Foundation's generous donation, a portion of which has been directed to Indiana Community Development Projects. Through that initiative, the Foundation has created a park development grant program known as the Community Parks Initiative.

The first phase of the program is a non-competitive $100,000 grant for planning purposes. Park Superintendent Mike Hite and Mike Rees of The Troyer Group have met with city administration and decided to apply for the grant to update the park's 5-year master plan, which is currently in need of revision.

Several major projects remain in the development stage and will be incorporated into the updated master plan. Examples include the Kiddie Kingdom wooden play park at the front of Centennial Park, pool renovations, and the pocket park at the corner of Michigan and Jefferson Streets.

The park department and city plan to use the new 5-year master plan to apply for larger implementation grants from the Lilly Foundation to bring those projects to completion. Mayor Listenberger noted that the city would then qualify for a non-competitive $2.75 million grant with a zero match to bring the projects to fruition.

In a separate matter, Attorney Houin presented a resolution authorizing a member of the park department to sign claims and authorize payroll in the absence of the park superintendent. Houin explained that city code does not currently provide for any transfer of that authority.

Because the park superintendent is appointed by the mayor but must be approved by the park board, the mayor authorized Dave Cooper, head of maintenance, to serve as interim park superintendent, acting on behalf of the superintendent when he is absent. Houin asked the board to approve the resolution allowing Cooper to act in that capacity if Hite is unable to.

The Plymouth Park Board affirmed the resolution in a 6-0 vote.

The resolution does not relieve Superintendent Hite of any authority when he is present, does not create a vacancy, and does not guarantee any future position for the interim superintendent. It simply authorizes Cooper to act in the absence of the superintendent.