Bass Lake Beach Replenishment Considered by Starke Park Board for Future Grant Application

Posted on June 15, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The Starke County Park Board may have missed this year’s deadline to apply for a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, but plans are already in the works for next year’s grant cycle.

Edwin Buswell with the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission met with the park board Tuesday. He explained that up to $200,000 in matching grants are available from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. To qualify for that money, the park board recently completed a five-year plan.

One area that board members feel could use grant funds is the Bass Lake Beach, specifically, replenishing its sand. Resident Steve Lucas has been discussing that effort with representatives from the DNR Division of Water. To see what such a project would entail, park board members plan to schedule a site visit with DNR officials.

Should the county decide to pursue grant funding, starting now would give them a chance to coordinate with Callahan Development, LLC, which leases the property from the county. It also gives them time to start raising money for the local match. Grant applications for Land and Water Conservation funding are due June 1, 2018.