The Seymour Parks and Recreation Department is seeking an amendment to the resolution of the Burkart Opportunity Zone Agenda that has halted many future projects and various funding opportunities in the city.

As it stands currently, a resolution passed during the March 25 city council meeting that opposed the entire Burkart Opportunity Zone Agenda, making it dead. That has left the parks department unable to pursue several projects that were already in the works.

Park projects include the creation of a community space near South O’Brien Street; filling in the gaps and expanding the trail system throughout the city; developing new, affordable trail-side communities; the creation of a new neighborhood to include park space; a new indoor recreation facility; and a new park master plan.

The issue was addressed during Monday’s parks board meeting.

Parks Director Chad Keithley said the resolution also affects the progress of a nature park that would have included trails and fruit for the community to collect.

Keithley said the parks department has currently accomplished 99.9% of the existing master plan that is good until 2025; however, to achieve certain grants through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the parks department would need to have a new 5-year master plan in place, something they are not able to update due to the resolution.

“This was something we put together as a department in 2021 through community input sessions and what the community thinks we need to improve on,” he said.

Until an amended resolution is passed, any projects within the agenda have come to a stop, except work by non-profits.

During the parks board meeting, Keithley recommended the resolution be amended for the parks department to continue on with the six tasks related to their department.

“I think if we can get the entire board there to show the support toward the parks department to the recommendation of what we can and can’t continue on would be in everyone’s favor,” he said.

Discussion between board members occurred regarding the support for all six park-related items on the agenda or only a few.

Board Vice President Bethany Rust said she was only interested in supporting the five-year park master plan and expanding the trail system but knew others would have differing opinions.

“I am not saying I don’t support the food forest, but I don’t think its time sensitive,” she said.

Board member Kendra Zumhingst said she believes the board needs to go for more.

“How many times a week do you see someone say, ‘We need a YMCA’,” she said. “We have the opportunity to be able to get something like this in our community, for our community. I don’t feel like we should let off that gas pedal at all. This is what our people want.”

Keithley reminded the board of the parks department mission statement which is to continuously find new land and promote healthy habits.

“The food forest is something we are doing that is fulfilling our mission statement,” he said. “That is something I want to continue to improve on and continue to follow our mission statement.”

Mayor Matt Nicholson spoke during the board meeting.

“I think as a board you have the ability to encourage the council to hit the pause button and say, ‘Here are some good things’ …,” he said.

Zumhingst made the motion for the board to draft a letter of support for the items in the Burkart Agenda that involve the Parks and Recreation Department that will eventually be presented to city council. The motion was passed unanimously.

Park board members also plan to attend the city council meeting at 7 p.m. May 13 to recommend an amendment to the resolution that will support those projects in the agenda.