By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The city of Warsaw is moving forward with developing a specialized park in downtown Warsaw near Jefferson and South Buffalo streets.

The city's Redevelopment Commission on Monday approved a plan to acquire the small lot, which is near the east-west railroad tracks and north of the Peking Restaurant. 

Main Street Warsaw's Downtown Development Director, Terry Sweeney, said they plan to rely heavily on grants for much of the funding.

The sculpture park will be fully fenced-in, and there will be opportunities for a chalk walk, kids' murals, and professional art installations, Sweeney said.

It would also be the city's first sensory park to feature specialized elements designed for children and adults with autism or sensory processing differences.

The proposed park was one of several projects that the city had hoped to receive funding through a statewide grant program, the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative, which was tailored to arts and recreation, but did not receive funding.

Jeremy Skinner, the city's director of community and economic development, also expressed support for the plan.

“Definitely a good project," Skinner said.

"I like the concept. I'm glad that it meets some of the things the parks department was trying to do in terms of the sensory and music and hitting a certain niche need within our parks department,” he said.

City Councilman Michael Klandaris, who sits on the Redevelopment Commission, expressed concern about the proximity of the park to the railroad tracks and noted that another newly developed park west of the Marsh Building was recently constructed.

The cost to acquire the property was $138,000, and Skinner said they have a long way to go to develop the park.

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