Victoria Phelps stands next one of the two bench swings she donated to the Batavia Township Community Center and Park.
Victoria Phelps stands next one of the two bench swings she donated to the Batavia Township Community Center and Park.

By Megan Alley
Sun staff

 

Users of the Batavia Township Community Center and Park have access to two new bench swings, and they could see more features added to the park in the near future.

Victoria Phelps, 18, donated the bench swings, which are each valued at $2,000, as part of her American Heritage Girls’ Stars and Stripes project.

The Stars and Stripes Award, American Heritage Girls’ highest earned award, allows an AHG girl to extend what she has learned about leadership, integrity and service to her community in a practical experience, according to a press release.

“When I was beginning to earn my Stars and Stripes Award, I knew that I wanted my project to benefit the community,” Phelps said in an email. “I’ve always enjoyed swinging and have noticed that swings tend to attract people of all ages. So, when I came across the covered A-frames and swings, I knew they would be the perfect project.”

The bench swings were installed on June 28.  Each swing is four feet long and has an awning to provide shade and protect users from light rain.

“With so many people already visiting the Batavia Township Community Center, it seemed like the perfect place to install them, so that they could be enjoyed by many people in the community,” Phelps said in an email.

One bench swing is located near the playground and the other overlooks the pond.

“We have six individual swings on the playground, but the bench swings really allow people to relax and enjoy nature together,” Administrator Rex Parsons said, adding, “They’re really getting used a lot.”

In a continuing effort to meet requests for additional park amenities, the township trustees are considering adding one of or some combination of a spray park, pickleball courts and tennis courts.

“I’d really like to move forward with whatever feature is going to be used the most,” trustee Randy Perry said.

During their meeting on July 11, the trustees directed Parsons to continue his pricing research for each of the options; he plans to present his comprehensive findings at the next trustee meeting on Aug. 1.

The proposed features would be located in the empty field on the east side of the park, adjacent to the parking lot, playground and a picnic shelter.

Preliminary price estimates for three tennis courts on about 2,400 square yards of land range from $88,507 to $128,629, depending on the thickness of asphalt laid as well as fencing options, Parsons said.

Preliminary price estimates for three pickleball courts laid out on about 1,314 square yards of range from $48,447 to $68,140, depending on fencing options.

Preliminary price estimates for a spray park are not yet available.

“Having a water feature like a spray park would provide a great family atmosphere,” Parsons said.

The township plans to use funds generated by its residential improvement districts to pay for the new features.

The township receives an estimated $150,000 in RID money each year, according to Parsons. Currently, the township has about $250,000 in its RID fund, which includes unspent funds from last year.

Historically, RID funds could only be spent on “qualified” capital improvements projects. Due to recent legislation, RID funds may also be used to pay for costs associated with maintaining RID projects.

As a result of this change, the trustees will likely consider the anticipated maintenance costs for roads within the RID districts before they decide whether or not to move forward with any new park features, according to Parsons.

“I want to make sure that we budget for future road paving,” Perry said.

The timeline for construction of any new park features depends on the direction the trustees take at their next meeting.

“If the trustees tell me to move ahead, I could probably bring in bids this year and construction could start before the end of summer,” Parsons said.