Posted on March 21, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Park Board has finalized a five-year plan for the county’s park and recreation facilities. The document will help guide improvements at parks, such as the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, the Starke County Forest, and Yellow River access sites at Range Road and English Lake. On top of that, it makes the county eligible for grant funding from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to help achieve some of those goals.
Board President Debbie Mix says a few minor updates were made to the plan since a draft was submitted to the DNR in January. She says the county’s ADA transition plan was added, as requested by the DNR.
Additionally, the plan no longer refers to Bass Lake Beach and Campground operator Callahan Development, LLC by name, instead just referring to “the lessee.” The terms of the county’s existing lease with Callahan are considered a challenge to making improvements at the property. However, residents complained last month that it was unfair to call out the lessee by name, when the plan didn’t necessarily do so with other individuals and organizations.
The updated plan will be submitted to the DNR by April 15. If it gets final approval, Starke County will be able to apply for grants later this year.
At the same time, Mix says the board is already considering ways to start implementing some of the plan’s suggestions. During last week’s meeting, members began discussing potential grant opportunities for some of the relatively easy projects on the list.
Showing posts with label Five-Year Plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Five-Year Plan. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Starke County Park Board Unveils Five-Year Plan
Posted on February 15, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County residents got a look at the future of the county’s park facilities Tuesday. Mike Reese with the Troyer Group presented the county’s five-year park plan during Tuesday’s County Park Board meeting.
He said one general goal is simply to raise awareness of the county’s parks. “Most people know of Bass Lake Beach and Campground,” he noted. “A lot of people, we found, did not know of the Starke County Forest, as well as some of the other properties and Yellow River access sites that are even in existence. So developing an awareness, creating a presence on social media because so many people use that now, having a parks Facebook where you can provide updates to people.”
The plan also calls for unifying signage, both to direct people to the county’s parks and also to help them find their way around once they’re there. A programs and activities calendar may be developed, as well.
Several upgrades are also suggested for the individual parks. For the Starke County Forest, the plan recommends improvements to the trails and parking lot, as well as the installation of a picnic pavilion and restrooms. Meanwhile, the North Judson Erie Trail would be taken over by the county, which would work with the Prairie Trails Club to make various upgrades.
The plan also calls for the county to make better use of its Yellow River access sites at Range Road and English Lake. Reese noted that various types of funding are available from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for kayak and canoe launches. Long-range plans call for the improvement of beaches at Koontz Lake.
However, much of Tuesday’s discussion centered around the Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Reese said the first goal is to bring the facility up to code, especially when it comes to ADA compliance. At the same time, the plan also lists several improvements on its longer-range wish list. “Some of the things that came up were improving the curb appeal, adding amenities such as drinking fountains and benches,” he said. “A very important one was improving the beach. The sand is not nearly as nice as it was before, so bringing in more sand and improving the condition of the beach for people to be able to use it. The playgrounds need new equipment.”
One challenge, though, is that the county does not have direct control over the Beach and Campground. Instead, it leases it to Callahan Development, LLC. To what extent Callahan will work with the county to improve the property remains to be seen.
On top of that, Starke County lacks an actual park department or park budget. Reese says that puts a limit on what can be accomplished, “As these properties become improved and there’s more opportunities for the public to use this and the park board’s involvement, actually getting a park department with a staff that would be responsible for maintaining these sites, and they could work to not only operate and manage these sites but work to acquire funding and manage the process of growing the park system.”
Starke County’s five-year park plan must be approved by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for the county to be eligible for DNR grants. The DNR is expected to review a draft of Starke County’s plan this week and provide suggestions. The park board will then consider adopting the final version of the plan in March, before it gets sent back to the DNR in April. If it gets final approval, Starke County will be able to apply for grants later this year.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County residents got a look at the future of the county’s park facilities Tuesday. Mike Reese with the Troyer Group presented the county’s five-year park plan during Tuesday’s County Park Board meeting.
He said one general goal is simply to raise awareness of the county’s parks. “Most people know of Bass Lake Beach and Campground,” he noted. “A lot of people, we found, did not know of the Starke County Forest, as well as some of the other properties and Yellow River access sites that are even in existence. So developing an awareness, creating a presence on social media because so many people use that now, having a parks Facebook where you can provide updates to people.”
The plan also calls for unifying signage, both to direct people to the county’s parks and also to help them find their way around once they’re there. A programs and activities calendar may be developed, as well.
Several upgrades are also suggested for the individual parks. For the Starke County Forest, the plan recommends improvements to the trails and parking lot, as well as the installation of a picnic pavilion and restrooms. Meanwhile, the North Judson Erie Trail would be taken over by the county, which would work with the Prairie Trails Club to make various upgrades.
The plan also calls for the county to make better use of its Yellow River access sites at Range Road and English Lake. Reese noted that various types of funding are available from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for kayak and canoe launches. Long-range plans call for the improvement of beaches at Koontz Lake.
However, much of Tuesday’s discussion centered around the Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Reese said the first goal is to bring the facility up to code, especially when it comes to ADA compliance. At the same time, the plan also lists several improvements on its longer-range wish list. “Some of the things that came up were improving the curb appeal, adding amenities such as drinking fountains and benches,” he said. “A very important one was improving the beach. The sand is not nearly as nice as it was before, so bringing in more sand and improving the condition of the beach for people to be able to use it. The playgrounds need new equipment.”
One challenge, though, is that the county does not have direct control over the Beach and Campground. Instead, it leases it to Callahan Development, LLC. To what extent Callahan will work with the county to improve the property remains to be seen.
On top of that, Starke County lacks an actual park department or park budget. Reese says that puts a limit on what can be accomplished, “As these properties become improved and there’s more opportunities for the public to use this and the park board’s involvement, actually getting a park department with a staff that would be responsible for maintaining these sites, and they could work to not only operate and manage these sites but work to acquire funding and manage the process of growing the park system.”
Starke County’s five-year park plan must be approved by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for the county to be eligible for DNR grants. The DNR is expected to review a draft of Starke County’s plan this week and provide suggestions. The park board will then consider adopting the final version of the plan in March, before it gets sent back to the DNR in April. If it gets final approval, Starke County will be able to apply for grants later this year.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Residents Offer Input on Starke County Parks Strategic Plan
Posted on December 13, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The consulting firm that’s working with the Starke County Park Board to develop a five-year master plan for parks and recreation is confident they can meet next month’s deadline to complete a draft document.
Representatives from the Mishawaka-based Troyer Group met last night with residents interested in offering their input on the process. Before breaking into groups, the consultants explained the DNR requires a master plan in order to be eligible for various parks and recreation grants. In addition to meeting those guidelines, the plan will guide the growth and development of Starke County’s parks.
The draft plan is due to the DNR by Jan. 15, with a final version to be submitted by April 15. Such a document is a priority action list based on community needs and demographics.
Suggestions offered by attendees include making the Bass Lake Beach and Campground a first-class recreational spot for both residents and tourists and improving several of the other public areas around the lake.
Another high priority is continued development of trails in and around North Judson, including a spur to connect the existing trail to the lake. Public access to the Yellow River for canoeing and kayaking was also suggested as a way to draw visitors to the community and encourage people who live here to take advantage of natural resources.
The park board is also looking at Koontz Lake and the Starke County Forest as assets in its inventory. A lack of knowledge of the forest prompted a discussion of adding better signage to direct people to the county’s attractions as well as finding a way to market the entire county parks system.
Those suggestions and others will be incorporated into the draft plan, which will be presented to the public during a meeting in late January.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The consulting firm that’s working with the Starke County Park Board to develop a five-year master plan for parks and recreation is confident they can meet next month’s deadline to complete a draft document.
Representatives from the Mishawaka-based Troyer Group met last night with residents interested in offering their input on the process. Before breaking into groups, the consultants explained the DNR requires a master plan in order to be eligible for various parks and recreation grants. In addition to meeting those guidelines, the plan will guide the growth and development of Starke County’s parks.
The draft plan is due to the DNR by Jan. 15, with a final version to be submitted by April 15. Such a document is a priority action list based on community needs and demographics.
Suggestions offered by attendees include making the Bass Lake Beach and Campground a first-class recreational spot for both residents and tourists and improving several of the other public areas around the lake.
Another high priority is continued development of trails in and around North Judson, including a spur to connect the existing trail to the lake. Public access to the Yellow River for canoeing and kayaking was also suggested as a way to draw visitors to the community and encourage people who live here to take advantage of natural resources.
The park board is also looking at Koontz Lake and the Starke County Forest as assets in its inventory. A lack of knowledge of the forest prompted a discussion of adding better signage to direct people to the county’s attractions as well as finding a way to market the entire county parks system.
Those suggestions and others will be incorporated into the draft plan, which will be presented to the public during a meeting in late January.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Starke Park Board Seeks Input on Five-Year Plan
Posted on December 12, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Park Board wants input from the public on a five-year parks and recreation plan.
They’ve hired the Troyer Group from Mishawaka to help with the process of setting long-term goals for Bass Lake, Koontz Lake, the county’s trail system, the Starke County Forest and the Range Road crossing.
A public hearing is scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. to solicit input from Starke County residents. It will take place in the meeting room at the Starke County Annex building.
The park board hopes to complete the plan and submit it to the DNR by Jan. 15th in order to be eligible for parks and recreation grants in 2017.
The Starke County Commissioners have allocated $18,000 for the strategic plan development. They anticipate recouping that investment with grant money from the state.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Park Board wants input from the public on a five-year parks and recreation plan.
They’ve hired the Troyer Group from Mishawaka to help with the process of setting long-term goals for Bass Lake, Koontz Lake, the county’s trail system, the Starke County Forest and the Range Road crossing.
A public hearing is scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. to solicit input from Starke County residents. It will take place in the meeting room at the Starke County Annex building.
The park board hopes to complete the plan and submit it to the DNR by Jan. 15th in order to be eligible for parks and recreation grants in 2017.
The Starke County Commissioners have allocated $18,000 for the strategic plan development. They anticipate recouping that investment with grant money from the state.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Starke Park Board Hires Consultant, Schedules Five-Year Plan Meeting
Posted on December 8, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Park Board hopes to have a five-year plan in place by mid-January. President Roger Chaffins told the county commissioners Monday they’ve enlisted the Troyer Group from Mishawaka to help with the process. The commissioners previously allocated up to $15,000 for the project. Chaffins advised the park board had negotiated Troyer Group down to $18,000 from their original price of $21,300 and requested additional money to pay the difference.
The commissioners agreed to allocate an additional $3,000 from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund to proceed. A five-year plan is necessary to qualify for state grants for parks and recreation. It must be sent to the DNR by Jan. 15, 2017 in order to qualify for next year’s cycle.
The plan will include long-term goals for Bass Lake, Koontz Lake, the county’s trail system, the Starke County Forest and the Range Road crossing.
Members of the public can offer input during a Monday evening meeting. It will start at 6 p.m. at the county annex meeting room.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Park Board hopes to have a five-year plan in place by mid-January. President Roger Chaffins told the county commissioners Monday they’ve enlisted the Troyer Group from Mishawaka to help with the process. The commissioners previously allocated up to $15,000 for the project. Chaffins advised the park board had negotiated Troyer Group down to $18,000 from their original price of $21,300 and requested additional money to pay the difference.
The commissioners agreed to allocate an additional $3,000 from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund to proceed. A five-year plan is necessary to qualify for state grants for parks and recreation. It must be sent to the DNR by Jan. 15, 2017 in order to qualify for next year’s cycle.
The plan will include long-term goals for Bass Lake, Koontz Lake, the county’s trail system, the Starke County Forest and the Range Road crossing.
Members of the public can offer input during a Monday evening meeting. It will start at 6 p.m. at the county annex meeting room.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Park Board Begins Talks on Five Year Plan
The Starke County Park Board held preliminary discussions on what they intend to do in the coming years.
The Park Board has been operating for the last couple of years, but was advised by the Starke County Commissioners the development of Five-Year Plan is advisable. Members of the Park Board would be expected to use the plan during their efforts to improve the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, but also to better manage other green areas within the county.
Acting Board Chair Debbie Mix says its development will help the park board.
“In order for us to get any kind of grants, and the county forest is probably the easiest one to address as far as that goes, but if we wanted to get any type of grant money, we would have to make sure we have a Five Year Plan,” says Mix.
A Five-Year Plan is required as part of any grant application Starke County may be interested in. State agencies often require evidence to show how the project requested for funding fits into that overall vision.
Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas says an inventory of the property in the county is a good place to start for the Park board. He says members may want to prioritize what they believe the board’s jurisdiction happens to be.
Lucas says there are several interesting legal issues they could run across.
“You’re going to run into public dedications for properties that pre-date the time of Park Boards,” says Lucas. “One thing we can look at is: what do those look like? Do they clearly show an intent to create park property? And if they do what has happened in other jurisdictions. That’s come up before in other counties.”
The Five-Year Plan will be considered a work in progress for Starke County.
Members of the Park Board expect to be meeting in public to develop a list of ideas that will influence their actions in the coming months.
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