The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors held a special meeting Wednesday evening to draft a 5-year plan for Parks and Recreation in the Community. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring told KJAN News they plan to meet on Oct. 21st and narrow down their wish list and developing a time-line, prior to presenting it to the City Council at budget time.

The Board, according to Herring said its number one priority is the continued development of the Schildberg Recreation area, and the seeking out of grant funds from Vision Iowa and other sources, especially with regard to the campground area. That includes getting electricity and water hook-ups established. Other, continued improvements the Parks Board wants to see include those for Sunnyside Park. That means refurbishing the smaller shelters, add better lighting and new paint jobs.

They also looked at grants for adding a shelter on the west side of the Schildberg Rec Area, including electrical connections. Other, phased-in plans over the next five-years for the entire parks system, include the upgrading of playground equipment in all of the parks, making them handicapped accessible, and establishing a focus group to determine upgrades to the swimming pool.