2019 Valpo Parks Annual Report

Annual Report 2019

Challenge Perceptions. Challenge Barriers.

Challenger League Baseball | Register Online at ValpoParks.org 1 ValpoParks.org

director's message

President’s Message

CITY LEADERSHIP Matt Murphy, Mayor Mike Jessen, City Administrator Holly Taylor, Clerk Treasurer John Seibert, Parks Director

CITY COUNCIL Peter Anderson Evan Costas Robert Cotton George Douglas Jack Pupillo Diana Reed Casey Schmidt

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christa Emerson, President Kevin Cornett Mark Hardwick Kay Magnetti Martin Sonnenberg Tim Warner

In 2019 we are thankful for so many good deeds and good people that partnered with us to make Valparaiso and Valpo Parks so extraordinary. Here are a few examples: • Bob Spaulding, Jr., Bill Higbie, Dave Rodgers, Chuck Gleason, and Parks’ Business Operations Director Kevin Nuppnau along with hundreds of volunteers and over $50,000 in private funds created the Creekside Mountain Bike Trail.

• Dave Lebryk, the Dale Gott Memorial Friends and Family Fund, and Biff Geiss and family initiated the Youth Sports Fund and created the Biff Geiss Rookie Baseball League.

• Hannah’s Hope and Sam Samardzija, working with dozens of volunteers and Youth Recreation Director Lisa Hutton in serving special needs athletes in the Challenge League Baseball at Samardzija Field.

• Community Engagement Director Maggie Clifton coordinating the Community Grant Process to create a neighborhood built two to five-year-old playground addition constructed by Banta Neighborhood volunteers and park staff, with funding partner the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission.

These examples are just a few of the hundreds of programs and extraordinary private/public partnership that once again make Valpo Parks capable of serving our community well. As always, special thanks to our Mayor Jon Costas, City Administrator Bill Oeding, Clerk Treasurer Sharon Swihart, the City Council, the City Leadership team, our Park Foundation, Park Board, and our partners in the business and nonprofit sectors who work with us and our department to provide exceptional service.

A special thank you also goes to our talented and devoted full-time and part-time staff. It is a privilege to serve with them all.

Many thanks to each of you for your patronage and support in 2019. We look forward to serving you again for the 75th year anniversary in 2020!

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a year in review Creekside Trails

More than just golf on the Creekside property Creekside Trails is home to six miles of multi-use soft surface trails. The Creekside property was purchased by the City of Valparaiso in 1992 from the Johnson family.The property remained unaltered until spring 2019 when a group of community members approached the Parks Department with a vision to bring mountain biking to Valparaiso. In March of 2019, volunteers led by lead trail designer Bob Spaulding, Jr, broke ground and by October of the same year the trail was deemed safe to hike, bike and jog.

ValPAWraiso Dog Park

Unleashing the paw-sibilities in Valpo Valpo Park's newest addition broke ground in 2019 with an opening date to follow in spring of 2020.

This dog park spans over 2 acres while featuring a large and small dog area, pavilion shelters, concrete pathways and a plaza complete with PAW print bricks and archway. The second phase coming Summer 2020 will feature a restroom, drinking fountain for both humans and dogs, as well as a paw wash!

Challenger League

Adaptive playing surface key to inclusion Samardzija Field at Tower Park hosts inaugural Baseball Challenger League for kids ages 5 through 18. The league was designed for special needs individuals to learn and play the game of baseball with modifications per their individual ability. Participants were paired with a buddy who helped them participate. Due to the turf playing surface, inclusion programs such as the Challenger League are now possible in Valpo!

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park financials

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by the numbers

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Thank you for your support so we can continue to ensure our community is a great place to live, work and play!

We are also appreciative to our Valpo Parks Foundation sponsors and partners listed in our spring Roots Newsletter.

1st Source Bank Athletico Physical Therapy Associated Pediatricians Blythe's Athletics HealthLinc Hightower Great Lakes Holiday Inn Express & Suites Valparaiso Martin Binder Jeweler

Oak Partners Inc. Paul Sur Buick GMC Vale Park Animal Hospital Aldi Brown Tire of Valparaiso Cavanaugh & Nondorf Orthodontics don Quijote Restaurante Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

1st Glimpse 3D/4D Ultrasound Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center Aftermath Winery & Cidery AM Stabilizers American Family Insurance Anytime Fitness North Valparaiso Bloomfield Mechanical Brandy's Lock & Key Burger King Designer Desserts Extra Mile Fitness Company

Fluid Coffeebar Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Franklin House Good Brothers Painting Growing Kids Learning Center Hannah's Hope Little Caesars Martini's Meridian Title Corporation Metro Recycling Regional Federal Credit Union

Regional Sport and Spine Chiropractic RH Mechanicals Santefort Real Estate Group Shelemey Law Office StoryPoint Chesterton Total Spectrum Wings Etc. Valparaiso Fit Body Boot Camp Valparaiso Professional Pharmacy Von Tobel Zao Island

Absolutely Dry

Crown Trophy

Henzi's Bakery

Spaulding’s Tree Service

Action Water

Dick's Sporting Goods

Indiana Furniture & Mattress

Steindler Signs & Graphix

Dunes Leathernecks

Leo's Mobile Bicycle Service

StoryPoint Chesterton

Immanual Lutheran Food Pantry

Life Care Center of Valparaiso

The Grounds Specialists

Family Express

Perma Green

CCS Canopies Rental

Firehouse Subs

Pizza Hut

TJMS National Junior Honor Society

City of Valparaiso Public Works

Flanagin's Bulk Mail Service

Sandberg's Towing & Recovery

Vale Park Animal Hospital

Coastal Valley Water Co.

Fluid Coffeebar

South Bend Chocolate Company

Valparaiso University Athletics

Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center Buck's Bicycle Shop Casey's General Store

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Meijer Currie Motors Ford of Valpo Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics Realty Executives Premier Team Chevy Two Men And A Truck Van Gogh Inc. Pepsi Co. Urschel

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Town & Country Market

75th Anniversary

Celebrating the past, inspiring the future The history of parks and playgrounds in Valpo began in 1918 when Frederick Kirchhoff donated his property on Roosevelt Road to the City of Valparaiso with the understanding that it will always be maintained a public park.

The next 25 years past with little discussion regarding the continued growth of parks in the community. It wasn’t until January of 1945 that a Board of Park Commissioners were appointed to manage and control the parks. Mayor Garrett D. Conover appointed Carl D. Rees, Mary S. Myers, Joseph C. Saunders and W.E. White to govern the newly formed department. From that point forward, the City of Valparaiso through the Valpo Parks Department added property that was converted to parks, developed programs for people of all ages and created events that brought the community together.

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Board of Park Commissioners, now known as the Valpo Parks Board. Celebrate 75 years as we recall the memories, collaboration and community engagement in Valparaiso.

Cheers to 75 years!

5-Year Master Plan

Creekside Golf Course

In the spring of 2020, Valpo Parks will embark on a 5-Year Master Plan that will pave the way for future progress. At the conclusion of the Master Plan process,Valpo Parks will transition those efforts into a capital fundraising campaign to raise public and private funds for the transformation of neighborhood and legacy parks. As such, marketing assets, creative materials and community events will showcase how current parks could be transformed into modern recreational greenspaces and programmable facilities through public input sessions, online surveys and community needs analysis.

2020 will mark the 20th anniversary of the grand opening of Creekside Golf Course & Training Center.

Creekside is situated on pristine, rolling land acquired by the city of Valparaiso in 1992. Groundbreaking at the site took place in June 1998 as parks officials laid out a blueprint for a 151-acre, year-round facility. Two years later, on June 6, 2000, officials returned to preside over Creekside’s grand opening. Since it’s opening, Creekside has seen thousands of experienced and novice golfers of all ages. Valpo Parks Golf is excited to celebrate 20 years of consistency at Creekside Golf Course & Training Center with you!

The map to the future starts now

20 years strong for Valpo Parks Golf

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the staff

THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN Administration Cassey Daugherty Marissa Gentry Jane Grennes Christine Kulavick Lisa Kusbel Karen Mann Kevin Nuppnau Brenda Piper Helene Pierce John W. Seibert

Recreation Lisa Hutton Dan Lukes Tarrance Price

Facilities Dan McGuire

Horticulture April Anderson Paul Chen Jon Jahnke Steve Martinson Vaso Stojic

Golf

Todd Adams Beth Bowker Joe Dauginas Andrew Small

Park Maintenance Gerald Barker John Dorman Scott Furto Stephen Garland Daniel Johnson Chris Michalak Zachery Neyhart Paul Pera James J. Phillips Matthew Slack Jeremy Stewart Rich White Cameron Wright

CONNECT WITH US Valpo Parks Department 3210 North Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm Phone: (219) 462-5144

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www.ValpoParks.org @ValpoParks | Register Online at ValpoParks.org