Submitted photo
Pictured is a rough draft of the potential design for the new mini golf course that Derry Township officials discussed Wednesday.

LEWISTOWN — Anyone visiting Kish Park recently may have noticed some major changes.

Not only is new playground equipment in the works, but community leaders said Wednesday that there will also be changes to the mini golf course.

A new mini golf course with a theme is sure to bring in mini golfers of all ages, said Derry Township Manager Kelly Shutes and Park Manager Josh Garver, who held a Mini Golf Committee meeting Wednesday — the first of what they hope will be many to brainstorm ideas to develop the golf course.

The committee made the unanimous decision to revive part of Kish Park’s legacy by giving the course an amusement park theme.

But, they wanted to include more elements of Derry Township history, so they will combine some of those details including Yeagertown Fire House at hole three, and Burnham Fire Department at hole one.

Shutes is hopeful that Standard Steel and some other long-time establishments will want to be involved in sponsoring a hole on the course, donating time, money, or resources to help the mini golf course project along.

The committee is also looking for anyone with fabrication skills to help as well. You can contact the Derry Township office to learn more.

“This mini golf course is going to be a highlight to our community,” said Jenny Landis, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau.

Shutes did state that there will be a ticket price increase, but the amount has not been decided.

The committee included two teachers from Mifflin County High School to seek help for this project, hopefully bringing in students to design some of the holes for the mini golf course.

Mifflin County High School technology education teacher Rebecca Conner is developing a survey to gather community input. The survey will be available by link in the next few weeks.

With the school district’s multi-sports complex project soon concluding, the area is expected to garner more attention from outsiders.

“People will come from all over for different competitions and want to do something in between games and tournaments are going to go right down over the hill,” said Conner.

Families will also camp at the park for those tournaments and take those opportunities to enjoy what we have right here in our community.

Shutes also shared that the township received a grant to install a splash pad at Kish Park as well.

Crews will remove the brown pavilion next to the mini golf course to make room for the splash pad, Shutes said.