Parks board to focus on park office location, golf clubhouse

Plans to form two workshop groups for parks department projects were firmed up Wednesday at the Newton Parks Board meeting. The two groups will meet separately to discuss the park office location and the Westwood Golf Course clubhouse.

The first group will meet to discuss where the park office should be located. The two options up for discussion are its current location at Krumm Center in the Arboretum or at the former caretaker’s house at Maytag Park.

The group, led by park board members Melanie Humphrey and Jim Klier, will further the talks by brainstorming potential uses for each space if they are not used as the park department office. About six to eight people are anticipated to participate in the group including members of Project AWAKE and Friends of the Newton Parks.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Newton Arboretum.

The Westwood work group, which is still forming, will be led by park board members Amanda Price and Marc Jackson. The group of approximately 10 to 15 community members and others interested in or who have a stake in the future of the golf course will meet to discuss the potential clubhouse, its features and how it will fit into the community.

The first meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Arboretum.

In other business, the board approved sending a recommendation to city council to hire the design firm of HBK from Iowa City to complete a concept plan for Sunset Park. The up-and-coming firm will be tasked with assessing the entire property and completing a phased plan for upgrades to the park.

“There may be things that are three, five, 10 years out, but what we built this year won’t be a conflict to what we do in the future, that is the importance of this,” public works director Keith Laube said. “I researched this company a little bit and they seem to have the expertise to do this.”

Approximately $80,000 was earmarked for Sunset Park during the last round of bonding. While the park has fallen further down the list as improvements were made at Aurora Park, including new playground equipment, resurfacing the tennis courts and plans for the skate park, the city and board are ready to begin work on potential equipment and uses of Sunset Park.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com