Annual Report 2013

Elkhart County ParksPreservation Education Recreation

Mission StatementThe Elkhart County Parks Department mission is to enhance the quality of life, preserve the County’s cultural, historical, and natural resources; and provide education and recreational opportunities.

Guiding Principles

• Integrity The Department will work toward its mission in an honest and ethical fashion. As a result it will develop a commitment to its customer base and be viewed as dependable in its facilities and services.

• Accountability The Department will strive to be responsive and dependable in dealing with park visitors, citizens and elected officials.

• Quality Service The Department will strive to provide the highest level of service in a fiscally responsible manner bringing excellence to all facilities and services.

• Teamwork The Department will make every effort to retain a diverse staff who will work together to promote a positive attitude, clear communication and support for each other as well as department activities.

• Vision The Department will look to the future by using creativity and continuing educational opportunities to develop new programs and services that will manage, protect and maximize our resources on a sustainable basis for present and future generations.

Agency Profile

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Elkhart County Parks211 W. Lincoln Ave.Goshen, IN 46526-3280Phone 574-535-6458Fax 574-535-6616TDD 574-535-6420Website: www.elkhartcountyparks.orgEmail: info@elkhartcountyparks.orgLarry Neff, DirectorRonda DeCaire, Superintendent of OperationsScott VanOmmeran, Superintendent of Parks

Elkhart County Board of Commissioners

Terry Rodino, PresidentMike Yoder, Vice-PresidentFrank Lucchese, Member

Elkhart County Council Members

David E. Foutz, District 1Randall Yohn, District 2Darryl J. Riegsecker, District 3David L. Hess, District 4John K. Letherman, At LargeThomas Stump, At LargeDavid M. Ashe, At Large

Elkhart County Park Board

William Wilson, PresidentKarin Frey, Vice-PresidentKaren Mackowiak, SecretaryLarry AndrewsJeff BurbrinkJohn P. HardyKlaus Mueller

Friends of the Elkhart County Parks Board Members

Jean LynnMac BoyerJudy FerrellLarry FordDon BontragerBree Herring

Director’s Report

Every year at the Elkhart County Parks is an exciting and rewarding experience and 2013 was no exception to this trend. It is good that our past was too busy to list all the programs, activities, special events and projects that make up a year in the life of our park department but we have managed to highlight a few of the many projects and activities of the year. An annual report not only gives a year in review of activities and projects but also the year in terms of our fiscal responsibilities whether they are tax appropriated funds, revenue or donation funds, all are important. The annual review also gives us the opportunity to thank the many volunteers, sponsors and partnerships that support our parks throughout the years. Without these relationships from the community, we would not be able to sustain our many excellent parks and programs. Our staff and Park Board work hard to provide to the public a park system that is safe and enjoyable for a quality experience in our beautiful county parks. We thank all of you who work in our parks, donate to our parks and visit our parks for a very successful 2013.

Larry Neff - Elkhart County Parks Director

Our staff and Park Board work hard to provide to the public a park system that is safe and enjoyable for a quality experience in our beautiful county parks.

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Partnerships

The Elkhart County Parks has developed many partnerships throughout the years. Without the financial and physical support of our partners, we would not be able to accomplish so many projects. We sincerely thank all who have supported the parks in so many different ways.

• The Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association and volunteers continued working on the mountain bike trail at Bonneyville. The 4.5 miles of the trail on the South Farm area was completed.

• As part of the Elkhart County Museum Association, area interpretive centers and gardens created a new placard with the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau that features the Mill, Museum, and DeFries Gardens. In addition, the Elkhart County Museum Association received a grant from the Elkhart County Community Foundation to help fund a Field Trip initiative for member sites.

• The Elkhart County Parks became a part of a group of Elkhart County area environmental educators that meets on a quarterly basis to discuss and collaborate on education programs within the community.

• The Elkhart County Community Foundation awarded a $32,000 matching grant to help rebuild the Ox Bow Park Tower. Several local foundations gave large gifts towards matching the funds.

• NIPSCO partnered with the parks to celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees at Ox Bow County Park with over 100 school children. In addition, NIPSCO also sponsored a fall tree planting at Bonneyville Mill. Combined they donated thirty-five trees to the Elkhart County Parks.

• The Elkhart County Parks partnered with the Indiana Master Naturalist Alumni Group and the Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District to offer a Fall Feather Fest.

• The Corson Local History Library and Special Collections reading Room library was completed and opened to the public. A grant from the Corson Foundation and partnership between Elkhart County Historical Society and Elkhart County Parks has provided a valuable educational resource.

• Monogram Comfort Foods presented grants to the Friends of the Elkhart County Parks and Elkhart County Historical Society for the Ox Bow Park Tower and Corson Library.

In the Parks• A section of the Pumpkinvine Trail from York Street

to 500’ east of SR 13 in Middlebury was completed. This connection included a pedestrian crossing with traffic signal at SR 13 and York Street. The trail is now complete from CR 35 east to Shipshewana.

• A 1 acre parcel or property was accepted by theElkhart County Park Board and added to DeFries gardens. Following the adopted DeFries Gardens Master Plan this area will allow for future parking, picnic shelter and restrooms and expansion of the gardens.

• Electrical service was installed at Fisherman’s and Cottonwood picnic shelter in Ox Bow Park.

• Staff worked together to redesign the winter ski trail at Ox Bow County Park to avoid conflict with hikers and snowshoers. A new map and interpretive sign educate park visitors of the segregated winter trails.

• A new roof was installed on the Ox Bow gatehouse.

Parks Highlights

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Environmental Education• The Photo Contest was a huge success with 374

entries, the largest number in its history. A grand total of 687 people came to see the display and attend the mini-workshops throughout the week.

• The Elkhart County Parks planned and led its first Junior IMN (Indiana Master Naturalist) Day Camp. This camp is a mini-version of the adult IMN program. The Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District and Woodlawn Nature Center partnered with the efforts.

• The Elkhart County Parks booth had a new location during the Elkhart County 4-H Fair week. Using the old blacksmith shop, we were better able to interpret our parks and hsitorical sites to over 25,000 people who visited during the week.

• Several teacher workshops were offered by interpretive staff including a Flying Wild Workshop and Growing Up Wild Workshop.

• Concord Ox Bow Elementary School, a neighbor of Ox Bow County Park, established field trips and visits to the park as a priority during their 2013-2014 school year to increase science education. Each student visited the park three times or more.

Cultural Sites & Historical Education• The Elkhart County Parks once again hosted the

Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau Quilt Garden Tour. A quilt garden was planted in front of the Historical Museum and the quilt mural once again hung on the barn across from Bonneyville Mill.

• The Bonneyville Millers participated in the World Tournament of Historic Base Ball at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

• The cornmeal sifter at Bonneyville Mill was successfully restored and a metal liner replaced The entire projects was funded by donations.

• The Elkhart County Historical Museum collaborated with the Mennonite Church USA to produce the temporary exhibit entitiled “For Love, For Friends, For Questions: Elkhart’s Partly Dave Coffeehouse, 1966-1975.”

• The Elkhart County Historical Museum offered several other temporary exhibits including “Top it Off with a Hat” and “Local Banking History & Currency Exhibit

• With the retirement of Master Murray, the One Room School House program at Bonneyville Mill became a part of the interpretive staff curriculum.

• The Elkhart County Historical Museum began a StEPS museum self-assesssment program to help lead and guide priorities for the museum and museum partnership with the Park Department and Elkhart County Historical Society. In addition, a “Local History Feedback Forum” was held to initiate ideas from the community.

• Indiana Historical Society selected ECHM as one of several pilot sites for two new traveling exhibits.

• The Elkhart County Historical Museum and Historical Society worked with IU Film Archives to preserve and protect the Frink Film Studio collection.

• The Elkhart County Historical Museum held Tuesday Tours throughout 2013 to attract visitors to daytime programming.

• Volunteers Phyllis & Gordon Hostelter completed a 5 year collection project, entering photograph metadata at the Elkhart County Historical Museum.

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Operations Highlights

Operations Highlights continued

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Special Events• Photo Contest

• Earth Day

• DeFries Gardens Art Show

• Bonneyville Heritage Day Event

• Mush & Pancake Breakfast

• Bark in the Park

• Bug Night!

• Gathering at Five Medals

• Storytelling Festival

• Halloween Campfire

• Holiday at the Mill

Community Outreach Displays• Master Gardener Walk

• Concord Preschool Fair

• Concord Mall Outdoor Show

• Elkhart County 4H Fair

• Goshen Arbor Day

• Wellfield Spring Marketplace

Every year at the Elkhart County Parks is an exciting and rewarding experience and 2013 was no exception to this trend.

Program Attendance

2013 Program AttendanceThe Elkhart County Parks works to educate thousands of people each year in cultural and natural resources. Over 65,000 people were reached through education programs, events, outreach and visitation to cultural sites in 2013.

MuseumSchool/Youth Education Programs 2547Adult Education Programs/Bus Tours 814General Walk-In Attendance 3237Public Programs/ Day Camps 1146 Five Medals Special Event 1357 Researchers 279Outreach Booths/Partner Events 1065

One Room School House 183

Interpretive Naturalists/OperationsEnvironmental Education/School Field Trips 7534Public Programs/Daycamps 1148Special Events 4885Scout Troops 462Adult/Service Club Programs 238Total number of people educated: 14,267Outreach Booths/Exhibits 1700 County Fair Booth 25,000

Bonneyville MillMill Bus Tours/School Field Trips 2,988

Program Attendance Total: 65,043

Parks, Shelters and AdmininstrationThere were ____ shelter reservations within the four major county parks. The adminstrative office took 6,084 phone calls and 1,289 walk-in visitors. Over 327,000 people visit the Elkhart County Parks on an annual basis.

Social Media and PublicationsThe Elkhart County Parks utilizes social media and the internet in a variety of ways. We had a combined total of 7,700 ‘friends’ on Facebook with the following pages:

Elkhart County ParksRebuild the Ox Bow Park TowerElkhart County Historical MuseumGathering at Five MedalsDeFries Gardens

Over 300 people each month recieve a monthly e-news of upcoming events and programs and our websites are updated frequently with events.

For those not using the internet, over 3,000 editions of the Currents are printed three times each year.

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Park Facilities

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Facilities Ox Bow Bonneyville Mill

Cobus Creek

River Preserve

PumpkinvineNature Trail

Treasure Island

Wolf Lake Lieber Nature

Preserve

Elkhart Co.HistoricalMuseum

AmenitiesOpen Shelters • • • •Enclosed Shelters • •Barrier-Free Access • • • • • •Electric • • •Kitchen • • •Pit Toilets • • • •Modern Restroom • • • •Picnic Areas • • • •Grills • • • • •Formal Gardens • • •ActivitiesPlaygrounds • • •Horseshoe Pits • •Fishing • • • • •Canoe Launch • • •Hiking Trails • • • • • •Bike Trails • •Archery Range •Disc-Golf Course •Observation Tower •

Elkhart County Parks Financial Summary – 2013

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OPERATING BUDGETAppropriated Tax Budgets Personnel Services $1,157,258 Supplies $54,875 Other Services & Charges $101,025 Capital Outlay/Adjustment $0Annual Operating Budget $1,313,158

REVENUE Non-Reverting Operating Rentals $39,346 Program Fees $30,368 Mill Grain Sales $11,307 Gift Shop Items $2,328 Vending Machines $6,258 Special Events $9,615 Miscellaneous Revenue $30,018Total Operating Revenue $129,240 REVENUE Non -Reverting Capital Gate Fees - Ox Bow $66,976 Other Reimbursements $833 Investment $0 Total Capital Revenue $67,809

REVENUEDonations General Donation $48,097 Grants/Other Projects $63,492 Investments $0 Total Donations Revenue $111,589

TOTAL REVENUE $308,638

Donations, Grants, and Sponsorships

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Bark in the ParkConcord K-9 CenterFaithful Friends Pet Cremation Services Middlebury Animal Clinic

Bonneyville Heritage DayJaycoFabric ServicesCulver Duck FarmFriends of the Elkhart County ParksElkhart County Convention

and Visitors Bureau

DeFries Gardens Juried Art ShowDeWayne BontragerElectric BrewFirst Source BankGreencroft CommunitiesT.E.E.M Trading/Topeka PharmacyJoseph & Kay PeirceDavid & Faye PottingerWaterford CrossingWVPE- Media Sponsor

Gathering at Five MedalsInterra Credit UnionWelty & Sons Well DrillingIndiana Univeristy HealthGoshen Home MedicalMillersburg LumberPheasants Forever IncKnepp Sand & StoneMoo Cluckin Farm

Photo Contest:ABC WarehouseConcord MallGenes CameraLighthouse ImagingShutterhugsStone Soup EmporiumThe Picture ShowWalmart

In-Kind Event Donors & Sponsors:ABC Animal ClinicA-Groom-N-AwayAmerican Greyhound RescueD. AbbottBullard’sBecky BatemanAndy Foy & Boy Scout Troop 794Beth SholleyBetter World BooksBig RCarole MitchellClassic Critter Photography Cliff RiversCrystal Peddler Dave AllisonElkhart County SWCD BoardEllen StrawFred RogersGoodwillJack’s Feed ShackJF NewKercher’s

K-martKroger Lowes, Inc.Mark Daniels ArtsMartin’s Pet & GardenMeijerPapa Johns Pet RefugeRichard WenmanRonald MishlerTerry WileyThe Nut ShoppeTravel TenderWalmart

Elkhart County Historical Museum Projects

ApparatusBristol Alumni AssociationJoel ChmielDanny K’s Smokehouse RestaurantElkhart County Convention and Visitors BureauElkhart County Historical SocietyElkhart Civic TheatreFruit Hills Winery and OrchardGilsinger’s John DeereHeartland Quilt GuildBob and Marilyn JudsonMichiana Master GardenersMonogram Loves Kids Foundation

Park Event & Project Sponsors:

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Robert Weed PlywoodRussell ProductsTown of Bristol

Elkhart County Historical Museum/Bristol High School Building Preservation Fund

Allan & Nancy ArthurWilliam & Verda BillsPaul & Judith BontragerB.R. BostianRoger BoyerBristol Alumni AssociationSue Ann CloudDonna CotnorJim CulveyhouseDon & Nancy DicksonGunner & Diane EricksonGuy & Margaret EnosW. Rex & Nancy GleimAlice HessertSteven & Janet HouserNorma Jean LightfootRichard & Joyce McFallRobert & Leslie McKibbinRonald & Doris MengesJudith & Larry MillerFrances Moran

Roger NeilsonJames NoblesJohn & Marilyn NymeyerRobert PeeplesRichard & Sandra ScamehornDiane SmithWayne & Carol PersingLarry & Susan RaberRoger & Corinne RoderickJohn RodyMary RymanLois SchmelingRobert SchmelingCarlen SigsbeeBlake & Cindy SlackSue StroupMae TylerLyman WeberJames & Marsha WirtWise Creations Inc

Oxbow Park Tower 2013 DonorsAnimal Aid ClinicBill Deputy Foundation Joe Buckries & FriendJeffrey ChuppCommercial StructuresCorson Family Foundation

Craig FulmerTrudy CoxDoug’s Alignment & BrakeElkhart County Community

FoundationGeorge & Barbara FridleyFriends of the Elkhart County ParksValerie GoldenJames & Gretchen GuardCarla GullStanley & Jame HunsbergerIrions Family FoundationSharon James David JohnsonKiwanis Club of NappaneeRobert & Sharon MillerMonogram Loves Kids GrantNizhnik FamilyJanet RamerDennis SensenichMargaret & John ShoupMary ThomasBrad & Kim Ulick in Honor

of Andy FoyWelter FoundationWilliam Wilson

Park Event & Project Sponsors continued:

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The Elkhart County Parks Department collaborates with many individuals, agencies, and businesses through Elkhart County. These park partners ensure successful events, funding and donations for special projects and offer teams of helping hands.

Bristol Alumni AssociationBonneyville Millers Base Ball ClubBoy Scouts of AmericaBristol Storytelling FestivalCCJConcord MallElkhart City ParksElkhart City Police and K9 Dogs

Elkhart County Community Foundation

Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Elkhart County Genealogical SocietyElkhart County Historical SocietyElkhart County Indiana

Master NaturalistsElkhart County Master GardenersElkhart County Soil and Water

Conservation DistrictFriends of the Elkhart County

Parks, Inc.Friends of the Pumpkinvine, Inc.Andy Foy & Boy Scout Troop 794Gerrod Hempel Archery ClassesGoshen HaciendaGoshen Painters Guild

Goshen Public LibraryIndiana DNRJohn Cutrell Landscape DesignMark Daniels ArtMiddlebury ParksNorthern Indiana Mountain

Bike AssociationThe Dahlia SocietyTown of BristolTwo Rivers Running Club

Park Partners

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Bill AlbaughDave AllisonTom ArendtBank of America

VolunteersAustin AndersonJim BareNicole BaumanRuth & Alden BeasleyRuth Ann & Steve BergerTrice BerkleyJoEllen Bernstein Bethany Christian SchoolGregg BeitlerAimee BjornstadtDon BontragerMyron BontragerBoy Scout Troop #31Mac BoyerRobyn BuengerKen CantzlerJim CarpenterBob CarricoCarol Caviness Shelly ChaffeeElma ChapmanKim ChildsTravis ChildsElkhart Christian AcademyGary ChuppJonathon ChuppCalifornia Road

Missionary Church

Concord Jr. High Government Class

Mark DanielsLindsay DanielsTyler DanielsJohn DavisLisa DeakGlenn DyksenCarrie EddsTom EnrightKaren & Ted FairfieldKaren FergisonJudy FerrellFred FluryLarry FordPat FrankElizabeth FrankeLuke FrankeMary FrankeMax FrankeRoger FrankeKarin FreyMark GarantGayle Gerber KoontzPhil GehlNancy GleimBruce GlickLaurina & Josiah

Ditzler-GraberDanny GraberLindsay GrossmanCarla GullBecky Gute

Robert GuthPriscilla HileNathan HiteMarilyn HorvathLyman & Sherry HugJaneen JohnsonBetty KegerreisGary KeisterJim KeckEvie & Craig KirkwoodMargaret KownoverTitus KingRyan KohnRachel KoontzBrad LantzerChloe LawrenceMerlin LehmanJean LynnSteve LynnTony LynnVern MaceKaren MackowiakBrent MannLori MassaVincent MassaThe McGuire FamilyPeter MestelleRuth MiddletonBurne & Jody MillerDr. Dave Miller Gary MillerMarcus MillerNeal Miller

Tyler MillerVern & Judy MillerRonald MischlerBrett MitchellCarole MitchellSammy & Katrina MohlerScott NamestnikSusie NeffClark NiemitaloCarol NovyEric OwingsCrystal PeddlerCharlotte & Julie PendellMarlene & Irv PrattDon PresserDan RaberMarsha RaberJon RaberDave RaberLene RaberMary RaspLinda RenaudThe Cliff Rivers FamilyAxel RizzoDoris RodyFred RogersSusan RoweSteve & Sarah SassEllie SchafferSarah, Ryan and

Hannah ScottLeland ShaumThaddeus Shaum

Volunteer Recognition

Elkhart County Parks Volunteers

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Gail ShetlerBeth SholleyLawrence ShowalterDan SlabaughKatrina SmullenDylan SteuryAllen StrikeSue StuckmanAlicia SwordsChuck ThompsonBrett TobiasRay TroyerLori TwiningJonathan TysonJason VeenstraRobyn WatsonTom WatsonPat WatsonRichards WenmanTerry Wiley

Diane WilliamsJulia WitmerDiane WynnEmma WynnDevon YoderEnos YoderLeon YoderMyron YoderJohn YoderNIMBA Trail VolunteersBonneyville Millers Vintage Base

Ball Team:Norma Barrera-MilesRay BaloughSteven CashAdam FlemingAdam FleckMark GarrettJason HesslerLamar Hostetler

Andrew HicksJames LittlepageBurne MillerJodi MillerKevin MillerMark NovaraPatrick NovaraChris SpataroJason StacyJamie StacyKara StacyConnor StacyCindy SterlingNote: 2013 was the last year for the Bonneyville Millers. They have expanded to an all-county team and have been renamed the Elkhart County Railroaders.

Elkhart County Parks Volunteers continued

Volunteer Recognition continued

Tim AshleyTim BainterAndrea Badke Auna BadkeDennis Badke Ervin Beck Maggie Brummer Sarah Brummer Karen Blough Marcia Brenneman Grant CatonJessica Casciano Robert Culp Mary Culp Leon DeanJanice DeanTodd Eads Ray Enfield

Susan Enfield Diane EricksonPaige ErwinMarilyn FulneckyDenise HernandezAlice HessertMary Jane HilesKaren HipsherWanda Hoffman Gordon HostetlerPhyllis Hostetler Dean HuppRuth HuppMike JudsonWava MarkinBob Myers Kathie MyersFaye Peterson

Martha Pickrell Brian Pinnegar Erin Ransom Romona ReedKarleen RichterDonna RomeroMadison SayreSusan StoutSandy Van Tilburg Daelence Van WormerDawn WhiteQuentin Royer Katrina PieriPat Hamilton

Elkhart County Historical Museum Volunteers

Volunteer Recognition continued

Elkhart County Parks211 W. Lincoln AvenueGoshen, IN 46526-3280www.elkhartcountyparks.org