Parks superintendent highlights ARPA‑funded safety and arts projects, plus Trail Creek Week events

During the Sept. 17 meeting Superintendent Mrs. Easton summarized recent capital and program activity: an $11,000 fence at Water Tower Park, completion of a $13,000 skate‑park mural project, and the department’s Trail Creek Week programming and Creekest Stakes canoe race.

Easton said the Water Tower Park fence — approximately 150 feet long and 12 feet high — was installed to block basketballs from rolling into the street; the city provided $11,000 in ARPA funds earmarked for neighborhood projects. Easton thanked maintenance staff and Mayor Angie and the City Council for support.

Easton also reported a ribbon cutting at the skate park for murals funded with $13,000 in ARPA funds; rain limited the formal program but about 100 people attended and the project featured local artist Chris Silva and demonstrations by Driftwood Collective.

Trail Creek Week and the seventh annual Creekest Stakes canoe race provide environmental education and fundraising: Easton described Trail Creek Week as a free, hands‑on environmental learning program that costs about $36 per child to operate and is largely supported by sponsors. Sponsors named in the meeting included NIPSCO (a $5,000 grant), Beachwalk and Sun King Rentals (in‑kind housing valued at $5,000), the Michigan City Port Authority, Michigan City Sanitary District, Port County CVB and Unity Foundation representatives.

No formal board action was required; these items were presented as informational reports.

Why it matters: The projects show use of ARPA funds for park safety and public art, and Trail Creek Week demonstrates the parks department’s community education programming and fundraising partnerships.