WARSAW — There’s new art in the park in Warsaw.

The city came into possession of several pieces previously owned by Milton Holmgrain — the first administrator of Kosciusko Community Hospital.

The first of two has found its home along the new Center Lake Recreational Trail.

[caption id="attachment_86938" align="alignright" width="190"] Above is a sculpture by John Mishler named Winged Totem, which was installed at Krebs Trailhead. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The artwork is a striking metallic sculpture known as The Joker (look closely and you'll see the smile) and can be found near the new boat launch along North Detroit Street. It was installed recently and coincides with the completion of the $1 million trail project.

The art is part of a new infusion from Holmgrain and Goshen artist John Mishler made available to the city, which has placed an emphasis on increasing the amount of art in public spaces.

Mishler has a sculpture, named Winged Totem, installed at Krebs Trailhead.

More art will be added next year, according to Suzie Light, who overseas the Warsaw Public Arts Commission.

The late Holmgrain used to build kaleidoscopes and lived on the south side of Warsaw, Light recalls.

"His house was like a museum," Light said.

Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer is pleased with the latest addition.

"We think art and parks go together," Plummer said. "I'm all about it."

The arts commission was created nearly a dozen years ago at the direction of Mayor Joe Thallemer.

To learn more about local public artwork, check out this link.

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WARSAW — Warsaw city leaders celebrated the completion of the new Center Lake Recreational Trail on Monday with the Sasso family, which contributed $1 million to fund the project.

The quarter-mile cement path meanders along the Center Lake beach and connects several amenities. It stretches from the Center Lake Plaza, along the beach, past the renovated Zimmer Biomet Pavilion and east to the new boat launch at North Detroit Street.

On Monday, city officials held a ribbon cutting and thanked Rick and April Sasso's family for their financial donation that made the project possible, saying that the trail enhances the city's natural assets and will have an impact for generations to come.

The ribbon cutting put a cap on a busy year for the parks department that saw the construction of a new parks office as well as a multi-million dollar renovation of the old pavilion — now formally known as the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion.

"Having a trail that's wide and meandering really speaks to the lakefront in more of a recreational feel and that's transformative," said City Planner Justin Taylor.

Improvements also open the door for better access for the disabled.

"Wheelchairs can now access the pavilion on the north side. It's really important, the changes that were made," Taylor said. "It creates ADA access for the amenities. It's more easy to get to the beach, it's easier to get to the different amenities along the lake front as well."

A new pier is also planned for the west side of the beach and the old pier will be removed as money becomes available.

Click here for a deeper look into the project.

For a full story on the ribbon cutting ceremony, check out the story by the Times-Union.

The post City celebrates Recreational Trail, thanks Sasso family for support appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Warsaw city officials will unveil the new Center Lake Recreational Trail in early December and those checking out the quarter-mile cement path that snakes along the lake’s shoreline will find several new amenities.

Visitors will find a continuous path that stretches from the Center Lake Plaza all the way east to Bixler Park and the new boat ramp near SR 15.

In between, they'll find a slightly wider and longer beach, four new lifeguard stations, room set aside for a beach volleyball net (next spring) on the east end of the beach and 14 cement pads for future park benches.

Also in store, perhaps next year, will be the installation of a new 90-foot pier that is replacing the old pump house west of the beach.

Much of the project was recently completed.

The $1 million recreational trail – funded with a donation from the Sasso family —  is the third major project completed this year at Center Lake Park. The others are the adjacent Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion and the nearby parks office.

Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said it represents the biggest changes in the parks department since Central Park was completed 29 years ago.

“This is probably, in the 39 years I’ve been here, as far as projects happening boom, boom, boom, this is probably the biggest year I’ve seen,” Plummer said.

While the parks board has some other smaller projects in the future they've reached a major milestone.

"As far as the infrastructure, I think we’re in a good place here –  once we get the piers in.” Plummer said.

The trail helps connect many of the existing amenities and adds a sense of flow, Plummer said. Kiddieland, the new pickleball courts and basketball courts — all east of the pavilion — are now more easily accessible.

The city previously had two guard stands, but added two because it represents the number of guards normally on duty at the same time, Plummer said.

Much of the entire area is now more easily accessible for the disabled, Plummer said.

Plummer said they continue to look at ways to connect Center Lake Park with Pike Lake Park, which sits to the east of SR 15. City officials at one point looked at the idea of a skywalk over the state highway, but determined it was not workable.

Plummer said conversations about that project are on-going.

He said it’s all part of linking city attractions

"It’s not cheap doing trails and connectivity, but it’s a little piece of the puzzle at a time,” he said. “Someday we’ll get there.”

Some work still needs to be done.

The city hopes to remove the old, crumbling pier at Center Lake near the pavilion next year after further research determined it will cost less then earlier expected.

The new 90-foot pier that encompasses part of the old the pump house to the west will accommodate both boaters and fishing enthusiasts.

Both pier projects are dependent upon finding new sources of money to cover the costs.

Plummer said they also want to construct a fishing pier by the boat ramp.

Plummer said the park board will have to address controlling bicycle traffic along trail to ensure safety.

The city will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the trail on Dec. 11.

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WARSAW — A change order from R. Yoder Construction Inc. on the Center Lake Recreational Trail project will reduce the overall cost of the total contract by $103,417 to $876,835.

The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety unanimously approved the change order Friday on a recommendation by City Engineer Aaron Ott.

Ott explained, “These are some items that had come up over the course of the project that we collectively let them gather to bring them up together in one change order rather than several change orders.”

The majority of the money being credited to the city is for the Crosswise benches that were in the bid. “Those were an excessive item, we felt, and we were able to get benches for a much better price than the $113,610 bid for 14 benches,” Ott said.

Board member George Clemens asked what kind of benches were those.

“They were special. They were made overseas. We wanted to match the Buffalo Plaza project, and so there must have been a change in the bench manufacturer or something from when that project was done to this one, so we were unaware and when we specified the specific item, it had a little price shock on it,” Ott said.

The change order also includes two additions. One is a custom bench to be used as a pump enclosure at an increase of $3,810 and the other is for additional concrete removal and replacement of a pavilion patio for an increase of $6,789.

Ott said all the changes were negotiated with the contractor.

The Sasso family donated $1 million toward the Center Lake Recreational Trail project.

In another matter, one bid was received and opened Friday for Warsaw’s recycling services at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

The proposal from Borden, the city’s current recycling provider, was a five-year contract with an increase in the price each year. Mayor Joe Thallemer read the prices, which are $3.93 per household per month for year one (2024); $4.06, year two; $4.21, year three; $4.35, year four; and $4.50, year five.

This year’s rate is $3.85 per household per month, according to Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon.

Borden offered an alternate bid for a seven-year contract but Thallemer didn’t go through those numbers.

After Dillon and Ott reviewed the bid during the meeting, Dillon made a recommendation to go ahead and award the recycling five-year contract to Borden. Ott concurred.

While the board approved awarding the contract to Borden, the actual contract will be approved at a future board meeting.

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WARSAW -- Construction of the Center Lake Recreational Trail in Warsaw is set to begin next week.

The trail will follow along a stretch of the lakeshore that includes the Center Lake beach.

The project will include new sidewalks, benches and lights, said Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer.

He said construction could be completed by late this year.

The old brick pump house will be cut down and turned into a platform that will connect to one of two future piers.

"It will eventually be the deck that leads to the recreational pier," Plummer said.

The estimated $976,000 project is being paid for with a million-dollar gift from the Sasso family.

Construction of the two new piers is not part of the construction plans for this year.

Removing the existing cement pier east of the pump house had been part of the project, but was recently set aside because of an unexpected increase in the cost of that project.

The city is now seeking various grant opportunities to cover the estimated $500,000 cost.

Plummer said the removal of the pier could still happen this year if the city is able to secure several grants.

"We'd like to see that done this year, but if note, hopefully in the beginning of next year, we can get that accomplished," Plummer said.

The post Center Lake Recreational Trail construction set to begin appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By David Slone
Times-Union

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