(Atlantic) The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission reviewed its activities from the past year during its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday. Commission Chair Kevin Ferguson said one of the year’s key accomplishments was completing tours of all the city’s park facilities.
Ferguson said that following the tour, the commission identified a long list of needs, many of which have since been addressed through completed projects and maintenance work. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Coordinator Jeff Christensen presented a portion of a list of those achievements to the commission.
Additionally, Christensen is working on a grant for a concrete project at the Schildberg Recreation Area. A grant for a new swing set project, planted multiple trees, installed benches, sandblasted and re-painted Camblins Shelter, and installed new trash cans throughout the city. The swing sets project would begin at Cedar Park. Chairman Fergason mentioned the importance of starting with this project at Cedar Park.
In another activity, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the second annual Freedom Festival in Atlantic, which was held last summer over July 4. The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Park Advisory Commission, led by Ali Pieken, organized a major event at Sunnyside Park that culminated in a traditional fireworks show featuring Dan Vargason at Steve A. Andersen’s Bike Farm on Olive Street, north of Atlantic. The event featured a variety of activities, including a hot-dog-eating contest, a live band, a Blackstone grill-off, and a slow-pitch tournament at the Sunnyside Park diamond. Other attractions included face painting, balloon animals, spray foam, bingo, and more.
