By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
At Monday’s meeting, Great Bend City Council member Jolene Biggs jokingly asked if the tennis courts at Veterans Memorial Park were jinxed. Following Sunday’s storm that included 80 miles per hour winds, Vets Park had several tree branches broken and trees that were uprooted.
Great Bend Public
Lands Director Scott Keeler said the damage included the fencing at the tennis courts and the windscreens along the fencing.
"As functional as they are and as much as everyone loves it, those windscreens...we've tried multiple varieties to let more wind come through," said Keeler. "Ultimately, they cannot withstand 70 or 80 miles per hour winds. That's a conversation we'll have to take up down the road."
The windscreens attached to the fence provide a 22% wind pass-through rate.
A wind storm in 2020 damaged the fencing at the tennis courts and the Great
Bend Recreation Commission spent $61,784 to have it replaced in early 2021. In
July 2021, the Great Bend Recreation Commission spent $10,871 for the purchase
of new windscreens. In November 2021, the Rec and City of Great Bend split a
$22,000 bill after two subjects vandalized the tennis court surface with
electronic scooters.
At Brit Spaugh Park, Keeler said there were plenty of tree branches knocked
down, but all the animals safe and secure during the storm at the zoo.
"Two of the trees knocked down are large cottonwood trees," said Keeler. "One hit the old educational building at the zoo and there looks like there is possible structural damage to the rafters."
Keeler added the majority of the 10' windows on the north side of the main
hangar at the Great Bend Municipal Airport were broken.