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"AROUND OUR
TOWN" OUR PARKS ARE GREAT ASSETS We are so fortunate to have the parks and recreational facilities we have in our community, and I can assure you they are used extensively. July is a big month for Simpson Park. It just hosted the annual Freedom Festival; and while numbers were down and the weather presented some minor problems with rain in the forecast or in the air much of the day, another great evening was enjoyed in the city’s oldest and shadiest park.
Now comes another big event that was moved to Simpson Park several years ago to take advantage of the big shade trees, the walking trail, and shelter houses. It is the 22nd annual Chillicothe Lions Club Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, July 17. More than 300 vehicles ranging from historical to the new sleek and modern ones will fill the park along with trucks and motorcycles. Various vendors will also be on the grounds.
The entire east side of the park provides a great setting for this cool event. The night before the car show folks and local organizers will again have "Cruise Night" that will begin on the square and head north and then conclude at or near the courthouse. The city welcomes the opportunity to showcase Simpson Park and to host this great event. A project to fix the walking trail on the east side of Simpson Park near U.S. 65 (Washington Street) has been completed and should help detain water from washing the trail and also getting into the playground area and mulch. The week-long project was a cooperative effort of the parks department with assistance from the street department and their equipment.
Josh Norris, assistant parks director, said that regular employees as well as summer staff worked on the project that begins near the north entrance off Washington and runs approximately 400 feet along the west side of the U.S. 65. When heavy rain fell for a period of time or there was a downpour, the water rushed over the walking trail and into the playground area. The trail was raised with two-inch rock and then rolled, and chat was then placed on the base and rolled. The trail was raised by use of 6x6's to divert the water toward the ditch. "We checked it after the latest rain and it seems to be working," said Norris. Use of the ball fields in our parks will be slowing down soon with the end of Summer Playground activities as well as the Mudcats going into the final three weeks of their season at Shaffer Park. However, it won't be long before soccer and softball practice will get underway as well as YMCA flag football. Things are going very well at the Green Hills Golf Course, and the hot weather hasn't kept the golfers away. The 18-hole facility is preparing for its busiest and biggest month of the season with no less than six golf tournaments scheduled in July.
Clubhouse Manager Dave Mapel also has announced that they have secured the long-time Bob Fairchild Golf Classic for 2010. In June, the public course hosted the Missouri Golf Association Junior Tournament, the Ryder Cup tournament, as well as normal weekly league play and a Glow-Ball tournament. [Click here to view the Green Hills Golf Course Event Schedule.] By request of an official letter from the Missouri Department of Transportation, the city of Chillicothe has been advised that MoDOT is canceling its long-term lease of premises of the Manuel Drumm Park on U.S. 36 near the Chillicothe Municipal Airport. City officials met with representatives of MoDOT at the roadside park site this week to go over preparations for closing the park and for the city to request they be given the roadside park sign, the monument marker of Mr. Drumm, and the history sign of Chillicothe. The popular roadside park will officially be closed on July 12, 2010, when MoDOT will cease all operations and maintenance of the park, returning it to the city of Chillicothe. The official notice for termination of the park was sent to the Mayor's office on June 11, 2010. It is part of MoDOT and the state budget cuts. An official letter has been sent to Chillicothe business places by the Office of Codes Enforcement with Zoning Administrator/City Engineer Ron Urton explaining the city's sign regulations, particularly temporary signs. It should be noted that the codes office is not enforcing new ordinances, but are only enforcing ordinances that have been on the books for a number of years. However, as Urton explained in his letter, in the near future the city and codes office hopes to revise the 2000 zoning regulations including the 2006-2 sign ordinance making it more current and addressing some of the concerns that have been raised. "Our policy is to be consistent with everyone regarding the codes," said Urton in the letter. Currently, the codes and zoning office is allowing temporary signs for community service activities. Persons with questions about the signs, permits, or any work they are thinking of doing are encouraged and welcomed to talk with Mr. Urton or others in the office by calling 660-646-5636. The city's 2010 street overlay program has been completed with all streets on the recommended list done in timely fashion by the contractor.
A number of nice comments have been received about the overlay projects in the third and fourth wards, especially Third Street west of Washington. [Pictured above: An employee from Norris Asphalt & Paving Co., of Ottumwa, Iowa, works on the newly asphalted lane of South Woodrow Street just west of the old prison as part of the city's annual street overlay program.] The normal ceremonial appearances, proclamations, speaking engagements and board meetings were completed by your mayor in June, including the Cultural Fair, RSVP, Friends of the Library appreciation dinner, Livingston County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Chamber, hospital and others.
Please take the time to enjoy our parks, recreational facilities, golf course and other venues in our city. |
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