Youth Athletics Complex Making Great Strides

Thanks to community and corporate donations, continuing construction has the new Plainfield Youth Athletic Complex on target for a spring 2010 opening. John Hall Construction continues working on Phase 2 of the facility located on a leased 58-acre parcel on Plainfield Re-Entry Educational Facility property on the west side of town. Phase 2 includes construction of four baseball fields and their parking lots. When completed, the Complex will offer 15 soccer fields, two football fields and five ball diamonds, including a “Miracle Field” for the physically challenged. The “Miracle Field” will feature a synthetic playing surface to enable physically challenged youth and adults to participate in baseball and softball, including “buddy leagues” for assisted play. The finished Complex will also include shelter houses, concession and restroom facilities, playgrounds and more. Related work by Poindexter Construction to extend Vestal Road also continues. Subsurface pavement layers have been applied; and curbs, gutters and sidewalks have been installed.

According to Plainfield Parks Director Clay Chafin, continuing support from the community is making the new Complex a reality. “The Parks Department and Town are grateful that corporate benefactors, community leaders and our residents have stepped up to make this Athletic Complex possible,” Chafin said. He noted that among recent contributions was a $2,600 donation from First Merchants Foundation. In addition, BF&S Engineers pledged three $5,000 donations over the next year toward project planning.

For more information about plans for the Youth Athletic Complex, contact Chafin at cchafin@town.plainfield.in.us. Or (317) 839-7665, ext. 523.

To make a tax-deductible financial contribution to the Complex, make your check payable to the Hendricks County Community Foundation, c/o Plainfield Youth Athletic Complex, and mail it to:

Hendricks County Community Foundation
c/o Plainfield Youth Athletic Complex
5055 East Main Street, Suite A
Avon, IN 46123

Your donation must include:
• Your name, address, phone number and email address
• (For memorial gifts) the name of the person for the memorial
• (For celebration gifts) the name of the person and the occasion being celebrated

Acknowledgements will be made without reference to the gift amount. Contributors should indicate the name of the acknowledgement recipient and address where the acknowledgement should be sent. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permissible by law.

Proposed Water Rate to Remain Among Area's Most Affordable

The Town of Plainfield's proposed water rate is intended to help the community keep pace with growth, improve pressure in certain areas, and enhance overall service. The increase – the first since 2002 – will keep monthly residential customer costs near the lowest among neighboring communities (see chart). In fact, the new rate will remain nearly 20% lower than the average paid by consumers in surrounding areas.

Town Engineer Tim Belcher explained that the rate increase, slightly more than $3.00 per month for a typical residential family user, will help fund major capital improvement projects which include the new northeast water tower, a new booster system and other infrastructure improvements. “These upgrades will enable us to enhance current conditions and manage expected growth,” Belcher noted. “We'll be able to keep the Town's water supply system in balance with stable pressures and flow, and should also be able to keep customers in service during system maintenance or repairs. Currently, these might require temporary outages.”

Town Council President Robin Brandgard, who serves as the liaison to the Water Department, stated that, “We've tried to address the current and future needs of Plainfield residents, while also minimizing the financial impact as much as possible.” Belcher noted that the project cost to be covered by the rate increase is less than initially anticipated due to a recent $800,000 Federal Stimulus grant and reduced loan rates through the State Revolving Loan Fund. Upon final consideration and adoption by the Town Council, the proposed rate could take effect later this year. For more information about water system projects or the proposed rate change, contact Belcher at 839-2561, extension 218.