The Michigan City parks board on Aug. 20 approved several event permits, adjusted program fees and tabled a youth baseball fundraiser request while asking staff for more information on nonprofit discounts.

The board voted to accept a major-event license agreement for the 2025 5K La Porte County fundraiser, a suicide and overdose prevention run slated for Oct. 18 at Washington Park. Promoter Zachary Jagwitz, 356 East Burke Road, told the board, "All the money is gonna be for a scholarship for ... adults and kids who need therapy for overdose and for suicide, who attempted suicide." Staff noted the event falls on the same day as "Boo at the Zoo," and the Board of Works approved the required road closure; staff said they will coordinate routes and crossing safety with zoo staff, EMA and maintenance.

The board also approved a late request from the Lebesnik Center for the Arts (LCA) to host the Color in Transit roving art exhibition at Gardena Park on Labor Day, Sept. 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The superintendent described the exhibit as a self-contained vehicle or truck that will bring artwork to the neighborhood; staff asked maintenance to help with placement and keep the vehicle inside fenced park areas for safety.

On programming, the board approved lowering the pour-and-paint fee from $25 to $15. Staff said their cost per session is about $70 for an instructor plus roughly $3 per person in supplies and that sessions typically break even at about six participants; recent attendance ranged from nine to 24 people.

Members tabled a request from a travel baseball group (USA Midwest Prime Select 13U) that sought reduced field rental fees at Patriot Park after the group said $200 per field per day (three small fields = $600) would make the fundraiser infeasible. Board discussion noted the department’s current nonprofit discount policy (50% off one rental per year for some facilities) does not explicitly list Patriot Park and that staff should confirm nonprofit status, residency of participants and whether the group has previously run similar fundraisers. Public commenters urged caution on blanket fee waivers because of city budget pressures; Scott Mellon recommended a refundable security deposit to ensure field care and suggested a partial discount rather than waiving fees entirely.

The board instructed staff to follow up with the softball promoter and tabled formal action until the next meeting.