Park Board Hears Harmony Playground Close to Opening

The opening of Harmony Playground is drawing near.

Effingham Park Board commissioners Wednesday heard the soft tile is to be installed this week on the accessible-to-all playground at Evergreen Hollow Park. Park District Director Jeff Althoff said some fencing and dirt work will be needed, and then the playground should be opened.

There are still plans to build a pavilion including restroom facilities, but Althoff said they don't want to wait until the pavilion is completed before they open the playground to use.

Commissioners heard numbers of summer programs. Baseball enrollment totaled 522, up from 500 last year, and softball enrollment totaled 245, slightly down from 252 a year ago. The big change is in the Adventure Camp enrollment, which increased from 54 kids per week last year to 140 kids per week this year. The all-day camp is offered at Evergreen Hollow Park and involves various activities to keep the kids interested.

The Board discussed a policy regarding use of locker rooms and changing rooms, but took no action. Althoff said they are checking with other park districts to see whether they have a policy or, if so, what their policy is regarding accommodations. The matter became an issue when a transgender child was going to attend a swim meet in Effingham. That child will now not be attending the meet this weekend, but Althoff said they will continue to work to develop a policy that meets the needs of the community and each individual. He said there are a couple of court cases pending that could give the District some direction as to a policy.

Workman Sports and Wellness Complex Director Jake Junghanel reported that memberships total 2,479, translating to 5,938 members. The number is slightly down from the peak total, but the number typically drops during the summer months. Althoff expects the numbers will grow again once school opens. Junghanel also shared that revenue is up about $12,000 from last year.

Althoff reported that the Park District's liability insurance claims have gone down, so insurance premiums will drop by about 10% for the coming year, saving the District between $10,000 and $12,000.

Junghanel also asked Elizabeth Braunecker to attend the meeting. Braunecker coaches the Red Tide swim team, which has won the conference championship the past two years. Althoff said they wanted to publicly thank Braunecker for her work and the team for its success. Braunecker has been a swim coach in the community for 17 years.