Rarely used tennis courts at Hydro-Electric Park in Fort Dodge may be turned into a series of horseshoe pits this summer.
The conversion, to be done by municipal employees, will cost $4,000 to $5,000, according Ryan Maehl, the city's recreation administrator.
"I think it really does a lot as far as enhancing that park," Lori Branderhorst, the director of parks, recreation and forestry, said Wednesday morning.
A plan introduced earlier this year called for building the horseshoe pits near the parking area of the park, which is on First Street Northwest. However, higher than expected bids scuttled that plan. Branderhorst said the original cost estimate was $18,000, but the bids were in the $42,000 range.
The project would yield 11 horseshoe courts, according to Maehl.
Branderhorst had planned to ask the commission to approve the construction of the horseshoe pits during its Wednesday morning meeting, but the nine-member panel did not have a quorum and could not conduct business. The commission members who were present - Steve Daniel, Michael Payne, Clark Root and Kirk Yung - all said they were in favor of the proposal.
A plan to name the baseball field at Hydro-Electric Park awaits action by the commission. A resident suggested naming the site after Walter "Pete" Wood, a star pitcher on a local fast pitch softball team from 1934 to 1970. Daniel recommended that a committee be named to study the issue.