The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Dept. Board of Directors met Monday evening at the Sunnyside Park Kiddie Korral Shelter. During the meeting, Parks & Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen reported work is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks to repair the trail washout at the Schildberg Recreation Area, along Iowa Avenue (the southwest corner of Lake #3). Leftover cement from the hospital parking lot renovation project will be used to help stabilize the bank and repair it. That section of the trail will be closed while work is underway. The washed out asphalt portion of the trail will be replaced with longer lasting concrete, once the bank is stabilized.

Bryant said also, the department is trying to incorporate more programming for young adults and adults. One of the new activities planned for this Saturday at the Trevor Frederickson Softball Field at Sunnyside Park, is Adult Kick Ball. The venture is a partnership between Atlantic Rising, the Chamber of Commerce and Parks and Rec, to have a “pick up-style” game at 5-p.m.  Teams will be divided-up once the number of participants is known. You don’t have a team of nine or 10 people, you can show-up by yourself and they will add you to a team.

Another Adult Activity, is “Art in the Park,” set for August 4th at 7-p.m. The adult version of the popular kids’ Art in the Park, called “Creation Vacation” take place in the lower center shelter at Sunnyside Park. The paint and canvas will be available for those who show up to paint on, and step-by-step instructions will be made available for those who want it. The main idea is just to have fun and by free-style creative. Bring your own drink and munchies if you wish.

Rasmussen reports the Summer Programs saw many participants: 53 kids signed-up for Tennis; 47 kids went out for Swim Team, and there is an average of 25-to 30 kids for the Art in the Park program that takes place every Wednesday. He said also, as previously mentioned, Cass County applied for a grant to install water fountains at four different locations. One is currently in-place at the Schildberg Rec Area bathhouse. That has a water bottle filling station and a lower water bowl for pets to use.

The City of Anita was supposed to get a water fountain, but they can’t, so the grant will be moved so a fountain can be installed at the Little League Sports Complex trailhead gazebo. The site already has a bike repair station and signage. Before the fountain can be installed, Bryant said they need to find someone to trench a water line about 200-feet to the gazebo. He’s working toward a solution with the Nishna Valley Trails group. He’s also been working with AMU, to get water from a well between fields five and seven. The site would allow the water to be shut-off before winter to prevent a freeze-up of the fountain.

In other business, cracks at Sunnyside basketball court will be sealed in preparation for use as an ice skating rink in the Winter, and cracks along the Eastridge and Schildberg Trails will be sealed to prevent any additional degradation. And finally, he recommends you stop by the Wildlife Refuge Area along Iowa Avenue, which features many vibrant flowers and plants, including black-eyed peas and milkweeds. Those plants and native grasses will hopefully draw monarch butterflies, some of which they hope to tag and release before they make their way to Mexico.

Iowa Avenue can be found between Buck Creek Road and Chestnut Street, north, off of State and Commerce Streets (as you head toward the Schildberg Campground Area).