Chester Council tables Cole Park recommendation
<span>The ballfield at Cole Memorial Park will remain as-is, for now.</span>
<span>During its regular meeting on Monday, the Chester City Council voted to table a recommendation "until a later date" by the city's Park and Recreation board to seed grass on the infield.</span>
<span>The ballfield is mostly used as overflow from the larger Cohen Complex, as well as a location of in-season Chester Stingers football practices.</span>
<span>It has three sheltered bleachers, with a concession stand/press box and batting cage beyond the left field fence.</span>
<span>"We want to preserve the nature aspects of the park, but we want to find a way to make the park more accessible," said Chester Recreation Director Patti Carter to the council members.</span>
<span>Prior to the meeting, Carter addressed a Facebook post that criticized the recommendation and also gave some insight regarding the closed Chester Municipal Pool (closed due to safety concerns) and Chester Skateland (closed for financial reasons).</span>
<span>"Cohen Complex is home to 5 ball fields, a tennis court, a walking path, a flying field, a multi-purpose field (used for soccer camps, football, Frisbee, etc.) and exercise stations," Carter wrote in a Facebook post that was also shared with Chester Mayor Tom Page. "We have not needed to use the Cole ball fields for any games or practices. We can accommodate them at the Cohen Complex."</span>
<span>Carter noted that she knows of a couple coaches - who weren't named in her post - who use the Cole Park field as they do not like the practice times that are available at the Cohen Complex.</span>
<span>"This was their choice because they didn't like the times that were available," Carter wrote. "Coaches may call and schedule fields with me at any time."</span>
<span>In both her post and during the meeting, Carter highlighted possible future plans for Cole Park, including it becoming more of a fairgrounds/event venue.</span>
<span>"The ball field area is the level space," Carter wrote. "It has a seating area. This space could open up more recreational options for citizens of all ages, such as car shows, traveling zoos, circus, carnivals, picker marts, art shows, demonstrations, music venues, to open up more recreational options for citizens of all ages, and so much more."</span>
<span>During the meeting, Carter also floated the idea of Cole Park becoming home to Popeye Picnic activities.</span>
<span>"I think the intent (of the recommendation) is to give Cole Park a purpose, which it doesn't really have right now," Page said.</span>
<span>Carter said the cost of the seed would be between $75 and $100.</span>
<span>"We're able to eat that money," said Alderman Bob Platt.</span>
<span>The council members then discussed the right time of year to plant the seed and whether users would need to be kept off of it while the seed takes hold.</span>
<span>The city's maintenance supervisor, Randy Eggemeyer, cautioned the council about trying to grow grass during the hot Southern Illinois summer and suggested fall might be a better time.</span>
<span>"We could look more into it and see what kind of weather we have," he said.</span>