Gary’s mayor and Common Council president found rare common ground Tuesday in backing the purchase of ATVs, a Jet-Ski, life jackets and other equipment primarily to be used at Marquette Park.

Mayor Jerome Prince and his administration sought to purchase the five ATVs, a Jet-Ski and its emergency accessories and life jackets for the park department using $166,000 in funds received from the sale of easements to the Little Calumet River Basin Commission.

A camera for the Hudson Campbell Sports Center for a little more than $22,000 was also earmarked. The total for purchases the park department had planned to make is a little more than $144,000.

Members of the Common Council have been balking at using all of the money from the property sales in just the 1st District since the request was made in March. Since that time council members in council and committee meetings said they wanted to see the funds spread in parks in each district throughout the city to address issues including leaking pavilion roofs and nonworking air conditioning.

Council members Clorius Lay, Ron Brewer and Mike Brown, all D-at large, and Mary Brown, D-3rd, all said they would not support the purchases until they learned what would be done for the other parks and how any work would be funded.

Brewer said the measure would get more support after council members have more information.

Vice President Tai Adkins, D-4th, said a committee meeting including the administration that will discuss plans for the parks is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 20.

Mary Brown and Lay questioned why $2 million was spent on Tolleston Park just a few years ago while the swimming pool and waterslide are now closed.

“I’m looking forward to the meeting we are going to have for parks. I have a lot of questions I need to have answered,” Mary Brown said.

Prince agreed Tolleston Park has been dormant for years and that is the case for all of the parks across the city. Years of deferred maintenance have left the parks in such a state there is no simple fix, he said.

As an example, he said, even Marquette Park is in need of extensive maintenance.

The city has not spent money maintaining the park since a $28 million investment about 10 years ago. Now another $200,000 in maintenance is needed to protect it, he said.

He said the administration is aware all of the parks are in need of work due to years of deferred maintenance that did not just begin 16 months ago when he took office.

Prince said the administration is working on ways to fund the improvements and is looking to council members to identify one key park in their districts to address first.

The equipment requested for Marquette Park is a matter of safety, Prince said.

Some of the ATVs also will be used to patrol other parks throughout the city. He urged the council to pass the ordinance allowing the appropriation so the city could move forward with the purchase since the beach is opening in 30 days.

Once the council approves the appropriation request for the purchase, the Department of Local Government Finance has 15 days to approve or deny it, Arlene Colvin, executive director of community development, said. If DLGF approves the purchase, it is unclear how long it will take for the city to order and take possession of the equipment.

“The reality is we have a responsibility to protect the patrons of that beach,” Prince said, adding without sufficient equipment the city will not be able to do so without the help from other agencies. “Last year was a great example of that.”

Councilmembers voted 5-3 to table the matter until after the May 20 committee meeting. The next regularly scheduled Common Council meeting is June 1.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.