OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa City Council on Tuesday gave a unanimous thumbs up to the Kids First picnic shelter at Sycamore Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Gene Rathje told the council the Kids First Committee wants to build a picnic shelter in the northeast corner of Sycamore Park.

“They’ve raised over half of the necessary funding so far and they plan on building the shelter in 2010,” Rathje said.

The shelter will be about 30 feet west of the edge of The Beach Ottumwa parking lot and the south edge of the shelter will be about 30 feet north of the playground equipment.

“The location may have to be adjusted by a few feet to avoid underground utilities and trees,” Rathje said.

“[Public Works Director] Larry Seals and I marked the four corners of it, to avoid utilities,” he added.

Councilman Mitch Niner asked Rathje if he had staked the area and Rathje confirmed it.

“The stakes won’t be put somewhere else, like the Bark Park?” Niner said.

Rathje said no.

The Kids First Committee’s picnic shelter will be eight-sided and their fundraising is continuing, according to the park director.

“They downsized the original plan,” Rathje said. “I think their new idea is more functional.”

Niner asked if “this will be where the stakes are?”

“It’s a 32- by 60-foot area and they’re preparing it,” Rathje said.

Councilwoman Shannon Addison wondered if there were any costs the city will have to pay.

Rathje noted “hauling fill” and “running a line to the shelter.”