A recent move by the Iowa Department of Transportation to close the rest areas along Interstate 80 near Waukee has been a boon for the City of Atlantic. The rest areas officially closed April 1st. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring said Councilman Dana Halder stopped by the rest area around the time they were set to close, and inquired about what the plans were for the heavy duty park benches. He learned from the DOT’s Rest Area Administrator, that the plan was to put those items up for auction for sale to municipalities. Halder and Herring worked with the Administrator to purchase several of the benches and trash receptacles before they went to auction.

A Power Point image of the cement picnic tables and receptacles being loaded onto a flatbed trailer heading for Atlantic.

The tables and receptacles are made entirely out of cement. The tables weigh 500-pounds each, while the trash containers are about 900-pounds. All were made in Denison when they were new, at Petersen Manufacturing and concrete products. The purchase price was $80 a piece for 14 concrete tables, while nine trash receptacles cost $40 each. The trash containers would normally cost $300-to $400 new. The picnic tables would have cost close to $700 new.

Herring and Mayor Dave Jones spoke with Cass County Engineer Charles Marker about using the County’s flatbed truck and trailer to haul each piece, with the City reimbursing the County for labor and fuel to help load and haul the pieces to Atlantic. The Atlantic Street Department brought in a dump truck to haul away seven large boulders from the rest area as well for placement near the entrance to the Schildberg Recreation Area. The boulders were made available at no cost to the City.

Most of the tables will be dispersed at the Schildberg Rec Area, while others will be located near the Sunnyside Pool in the play area between the softball field and the baby pool area. The Parks Board was pleasantly surprised by the news during their meeting Monday night.