Correction: This story was updated to reflect the correct spelling of Wylie Park. We regret the error.
It is a mammoth project to paint the Village Bowl exterior, but manager Cliff Kuckelburg and his staff are tackling it on their own.
Once every 10 years, the building is painted and this is the year. Kuckelburg told me that it will take more than 100 gallons of paint. It took about 25 gallons, including primer, for the front of the building. About half of the paint job is finished. It will take another month to finish the rest of it.
"It is definitely a group effort," he said. "I have my office people — Donna and Sarah — working and all our employees. I even have my daughter Brianna painting. She is 16 and it's been fun working with her."
The building previously was a bluish-purple color and now they are painting it taupe, a fancy word for tan. The trim will now be two different shades of brown, called molasses and hot chocolate.
This is the third time Kuckleburg has painted the Village Bowl.
He has worked there for 33 years. That is a long time. When he started working, the song "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People was topping the charts.
Kuckelburg said that there have been a lot of people stopping by to compliment him on the paint job. That helps keep the crew's spirits up and makes it all worthwhile, he said.
Next year there are plans to replace the concrete in front of the building, he said.
Free bowling
The Village Bowl, which has 32 lanes, has a special deal for children and youth in the summer. Every day anyone younger than 18 can bowl two free games. That includes free shoe rental.
Pre-schoolers through high school age students can bowl for free.
Kuckelburg said about 50 to 60 young bowlers take advantage of the offer daily. No coupons are necessary. Passes are available for the asking at the front desk.
Kuckelburg said free bowling is a way to give youth something to do in the summer and use the bowling alley at a slower time of the year.
Wylie summer fun
The beautiful summer weather has been good for recreation businesses such as Thunder Road at Wylie Park. David Novstrup, general manager, told me that traffic has been up at the company's four Wylie attractions — Thunder Road Go Carts, mini-golf, bumper boats and Eurobungy trampoline.
The Eurobungy trampoline is new this year. Three out of the four stations are in place and Novstrup is hoping that the fourth one is up by July 4 when the park is packed with visitors.
On the trampoline, jumpers wear a safety harness attached to bungy cords, which give them extra lift. How high a person can jump depends on their size, Novstrup said. Teenagers and adults can often jump as high as the 20-foot poles around the trampoline. Smaller jumpers cannot get that high.
The cost is $6 for four minutes.
The increase in business at Wylie is due a lot to the weather, Novstrup said.
"We want rain for the farmers, but frequent rain hurts our business," he said. "Ideally it would just rain after midnight when we are closed and then stop in the morning at 8 a.m."
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