Monday evening, Parks Superintendent Chad Jonsson presented several items on the agenda to the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board during their monthly meeting. Jonsson announced the installation of a batting cage at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex is in the plans for the upcoming season.

Discussions continued as the board looks at options for the pavilion at Lakeside Park. Previously, the board had considered replacing the pavilion with a new construction. Jonsson expressed the quotes he received for a new building would not be feasible for board at this time. He will now begin to look at quotes for repairing the roof on the existing pavilion.

Items of purchase were brought to the board for approval. The first proposal was for a fertilization program for the parks and community center that will begin in spring and continue through the fall. The board accepted the proposal by The Property Company in the amount of $2,112. Other expenditures included a new utility vehicle and the installation of a sprinkler system.

After careful review the board moved to purchase a 2015 Gator that would be used for multi-seasonal maintenance. The Gator, model HPX, will be bought for $9,571. The cost will be covered with funds appropriated for new equipment. Jonsson added the 2007 utility vehicle owned by the parks department will be used for secondary maintenance duties as needed.

In the superintendent’s final report with new business, Jonsson presented the members two options for a sprinkler system. The system will be installed at Lakeside Park for watering the flower beds. The board chose a unit from Precision Property Solutions that would tie into the existing system and operate with the current community center watering program. The total cost of the sprinkler system will be $3,100. Work will begin when weather permits.

Program activities report was presented by program director Tyler McLead. McLead updated the board on Easter egg hunts hosted by the community center. New this year will be an “Eggsploration Geo Hunt.” The event is scheduled for Monday, March 23, to 5 p.m. Monday, March 30. All ages are welcomed to pick up a passport at the Syracuse Community Center March 23. Passports will have GPS coordinates for 10 geocache eggs placed throughout Syracuse. Each egg will have a sticker to be placed in the passport, once the passport is complete it can be returned to the Syracuse Community Center for a chance to win a prize.

The sixth annual flashlight Easter egg hunt will be at 9 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Lakeside Park. This event is free and open to children in grades sixth through eighth. The nighttime hunt will immediately follow the middle school dance at the Syracuse Community Center. The cost for dance admission is $5.

A traditional Easter egg hunt for children 10 and under will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Lakeside Park in Syracuse.

In addition to holiday activities, Kosciusko Cares will be offering Mental Health First Aid courses 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the following days; March 23-24, April 27-28 and May 18-19. The cost is $30 for those registering two weeks in advance and $50 for registrations seven days prior to class start date. Dinner is include at no additional charge.

For more information about this event call Kosciusko Cares at (574) 457-5637.