Park Board Moves Ahead w/Plans for Two Projects

Effingham Park Board commissioners have awarded concrete work that will serve as the base for a pavilion at Community Park and a maintenance shed at Evergreen Hollow Park.

John Lewis Construction of Teutopolis was awarded the work for $79,901.  The maintenance shed will eliminate the need to transport equipment and materials from other parks to Evergreen Hollow, while the pavilion is being built in co-operation with the Effingham Noon and Sunrise Rotary clubs.  The pavilion will replace an aging structure on the far east part of Community Park and will be located farther south toward the bulk of the parking in that area of the park.

The Board discussed revenue generated this year from baseball and softball leagues.  Park District Director Jeff Althoff said the baseball leagues...Khoury, Little, Junior Babe Ruth and Prep...operated at a loss of about $6,000.  Althoff said the leagues have never made money, but he would like to get closer to breaking even in the future.

The major consideration is field preparation and statistician pay.  That is certainly the case, Althoff said, when considering the men's slowpitch softball league that plays at Hendelmeyer Park.

Althoff said the men's slowpitch league was $7,000 in the red, while the 35 and Over league lost just $200 and the women's league lost just $100 to $200. 

Althoff said the slowpitch league operated from April to mid-September this season and was hampered early in the season by rain.  He said the league often scheduled just one doubleheader a night, while 35 and Older scheduled two doubleheaders a night and that means more field prep and stat keepers more nights for the Young Men's league.

Althoff said one option is to schedule more nights with two doubleheaders to cut back on field prep costs, and another is to discontinue providing scorekeepers for the league.

The Park Board also annexed the property on the southeast corner of the intersection of 3rd and Rickelman into the District, and postponed discussion of pool revenues and 2014 projects to a future meeting.