By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Adams County Council Aging Director Michelle Lengerich, who led the charge which brought public transportation to Adams County, has a new major project in mind: an outdoor courtyard for seniors and others at the MERIT Center.
Those plans got a $13,000 boost from Decatur City Council on Tuesday, following another helping hand (hands?) from a group of volunteers.
The courtyard has existed since the building was constructed as Northwest School. There is, however, no easy access to it from the building, now the city-owned MERIT Center; going through the boiler room or a back gate is the only way.
So Lengerich asked council for the use of some federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) pandemic relief funds to construct a door or doors to provide access from the seniors center portion of the building.
“I just want some doors to get out there,” she told council. “We really need access to it (courtyard). Going through a boiler room is not the way to do it.”
Lengerich had quotes of $13,000 for two doors (two side-by-side doors) and $7,100 for one door.
She said she would like to get the access situation settled in order “to move forward out there” with a major renovation.
“I love the idea of giving people a place to go to nature, flowers, like that,” said Councilwoman Jenny Bowers-Shultz.
“It’s a great use for ARPA funds; it’s just (a question of) what doors do we decide to use,” added Councilman Matt Dyer.
Councilwoman Abby Wilder favored two doors, noting: “She (Lengerich) has done a lot for our community.”
Bowers-Shultz moved to use $13,000 in ARPA monies for two doors, Wilder seconded and the vote was 5-0.
CLEANUP: The courtyard, unattended for years, was full of weeds, brush and the like.
However, on Oct. 13 – Columbus Day – a group of 20 volunteers from four local financial institutions got together and cleaned out the area, which contains two memorial trees.
It is located between the east and west wings of the building.
In a Facebook post, Lengerich said: “Back in its prime, the space was loved by students and teachers alike.
“We have big dreams for this underutilized outdoor space. We have dreams to renovate the space into a Senior Courtyard and Gardens equipped with a shuffleboard court, two covered gazebos, a water feature and so much more.
“The entire space would be handicap accessible to allow wheelchairs and walkers to move with ease.
“Waste-high planters to grow flowers and planters, including one wheelchair accessible planter” are also part of the scheme, according to the post.
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