Park Board Commissioners Discuss Vandalism at Parks

Effingham Park Board commissioners discussed recent vandalism in restrooms in Community and Hendelmeyer parks.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said the vandalism was typical; someone busted up a urinal at one location, someone ripped a partition off the wall at another. The crimes will be investigated.

Commissioners discussed the projected fiscal year tax levy. Althoff said the increase in the levy over what was actually extended for taxes this past year will be less than 5%. A vote on the levy will come at the December meeting.

The Board discussed changes in the 2022 Adventure Camp. The changes would include more planned activities, and the resumption of field trips. Althoff said they were hampered this year by summer sports at the high schools running later into the summer. That meant fewer summer workers, including umpires. That should be remedied for next year if school sports seasons are back on schedule.

Althoff said an increased emphasis on earlier signups for Park District sports would be helpful, as it would allow better organization.

Althoff also shared that work is nearing completion on the pickleball courts at Hendelmeyer Park, and that bids have gone out on replacing the fencing at the middle softball field at Hendelmeyer Park.