ROCK SPRINGS — With departments preparing budget lists to send to the Rock Springs City Council, the Parks and Recreation Department discussed several items. They including expansions to fitness rooms at the Rock Springs Family Recreation Center, upgrades to the bathrooms and locker rooms at the Rock Springs Civic Center and a memorial to the late Glenn Sugano.
Rock Springs Councilman Billy Shalata, who serves as Liaison to the board, spoke to the Parks and Recreation Board about a memorial to Sugano at the Bitter Creek Bark Park. He explained he has been approached by several people about a possible memorial because of his enjoyment of spending time with his dog there everyday.
The city is preparing to open the small dog park and Shalata said after talking with Director Dave Lansang and Park Supervisor Mark Lyon there was discussion about putting a small monument there.
Board member Lynne Demshar spoke on the issue. She told Shalta they have a picture of Sugano and his dog and they could possibly put up something similar to what they have for Ray Lovato at the Rock Springs Historical Museum.
“There was talk about putting a bust of Sugano at city hall but knowing him, he would hate that,” Demshar laughed. “He went there (dog park) every single day.”
Lansang said the Parks Department and Lyon have also been approached to plant trees in his memory. Lansang said they thought maybe it could all go together at the dog park.
The board questioned if they would have to look at doing this through its budget. Lansang said he believed it would be more of a project which would come from the Mayor’s budget.
Shalta also said with the budget discussions coming up, he urged the board to look at asking the city for money to redo the Rock Springs Civic Center locker rooms and bathrooms.
“I would like to earmark money for the project if we have the extra money,” Shalata said.
Many members of the board agreed the project was much needed because of the condition of the locker rooms and the bathrooms at the center.
Demshar also brought another project forward, the expansion of the fitness room at the rec center. She said between classes it is a nightmare with people coming and going and then the hustle to find a tiny spot for the class.
Lansang said there had been some discussion and there was a possible space where they could go over the free weights downstairs.
Board member Stevi Madsen also brought up the issue of equipment and questioned whether the space would really provide that much more room.
All the projects will be looked at closer at the next meeting as the board will start to complete their budget requests to the city.
