Macomb, IL – The Macomb Park District says it's making progress much faster than expected on its major construction project.
Executive Director Ray Peterson says the 80-acre University Drive project is "going along great guns." He says work is progressing quickly on the soccer fields and parking lots.
Peterson says the softball diamonds are also coming along nicely. "We will probably start trucking in dolomite for the infields next week, which is at least three months ahead of my original thought on that," says Peterson.
He says the only downside is that the money to pay for the work heads out the door faster than anticipated too.
The first phase of developing the site includes construction of soccer fields, four softball diamonds, and part of a walking trail. It also includes two concession stands, the parking lots, and a road.
The district hopes to complete that work by next summer.
Swimming in Red Ink
Peterson also told parks commissioners during their September meeting that the park district sunk more money into Glenwood Pool than it made on swimming this year.
Peterson is not surprised. He expected a loss of more than $16,000. Preliminary information shows the loss will be close to that figure.
Peterson told commissioners attendance was down this year for a couple reasons.
"One, we were delayed opening because of the repairs and so on. I did not expect that to be a major item, but that coupled with the fact that it was one of the coldest, wettest summers on record I think had that effect," said Peterson.
Attendance this summer was 4,740. Last year it was 6,300. The year before it was around 6,200.
Peterson hopes to meet soon with City Administrator Dean Torreson. He wants to talk with Torreson about the pool's capital expenses for the year.