New fitness additions considered for Creston parks

New equipment may be in the future for Creston’s parks. The Creston Parks and Recreation board Wednesday spoke with numerous community members regarding projects in the city parks.

Darlene Louden of the Southside Boosters has been working with the board to place outdoor exercise equipment at Rainbow Park. Inspired by Osceola’s equipment at Q-Pond Park, Louden has put together a wishlist of equipment. While the Southside Boosters has some money set aside to help pay for the project, they are working with the board to find other funding.

A preliminary plan, including six pieces of equipment, a concrete pad and shipping, costs $17,270. Louden presented information to board president John Kawa, who will in turn share with Greater Regional Health’s Healthcare Foundation. The goal is to receive a sizable grant from the hospital in order to fund a majority of the project.

“I‘ll talk to the hospital and see what they have to say,” Kawa said. “This would be the first senior workout thing in Creston, I believe.” While designed for easy senior use, the equipment would be available to anyone 14 and older.

Stephen Eyberg also spoke with the board, representing Creston’s pickleball community. As the sport continues to grow locally, Eyberg said the athletes were hoping to add another court at McKinley Park’s multi-sport court.

“What we’d like to do is expand and have two permanent courts out there and then another outline on the last basketball court so if we have to we can bring in a portable net,” Eyberg said. “We have anywhere from 12 to 16 people show up on a given day to play pickleball.”

Eyberg thought adding a net, repainting lines and bringing in a wind screen would cost about $4,000. However, the board had doubts, due to how the courts were sealed last year.

Parks and Rec Director Rusty Zimmerman said he would do some research into whether painting on top of the sealant would be possible, and if not, how much it would cost. The board also questioned the feasibility of continuing basketball at the multi-sport courts with the addition of another permanent net.

Eyberg explained the net he was looking at included covers, so the net could be taken out and covers placed where the net posts had been in order to prevent injuries.

In addition to park features for good weather, board member Margo Fuller brought up adding holiday lights at McKinley Park during the winter. While the board had discussed the possibility of lights in the past, Fuller said she had a conversation with Creston agriculture and FFA instructor Kesley Bailey that moved the project forward.

“[Bailey] used to be in charge of putting up the lights out at the fairgrounds,” Fuller said. “She said when we get ready to do that, the FFA would love to partner with parks and rec.”

The lights would be sponsored by different businesses in town. Bailey warned against the use of inflatables due to wind, while suggesting the addition of trail cameras and signs to stop vandalization.

“[Bailey’s] willing to partner with us and help us set up the agreements,” Fuller said. “The reason why they don’t do it at the fairgrounds is because she doesn’t have time during the day to send kids over there and back, and it just got to be too much work for them, but she would love to see that continue here.”