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Parks reports strong winter programming, volunteer push and new administrative assistant
Summary
Staff reported robust winter programming at NIBCO/NIPCO facilities, indoor farmers market attendance, upcoming events, an active volunteer Adopt-a-Park program, and introduced new administrative assistant Pamela Paradis.
Elkhart Parks staff reported steady winter programming and community engagement, highlighted a successful NIBCO glow-party weekend and indoor farmers market attendance, described volunteer recruitment needs and adopted-park stewardship, and introduced a new administrative assistant to the board.
Liz Stoutenauer, event coordinator, said the indoor farmers market continues monthly with consistent vendor turnout and that a recent Glow Party at NIBCO sold 468 admissions and 143 hot chocolate servings during a single evening. "It pretty much stayed that way for about 2 hours...468 admissions," Stoutenauer said.
Superintendent Jamieson Czarnecki said NIBCO/NIPCO is a strong winter asset; staff also announced a program schedule including a February Frosty 5 and a Valentine's skate event on Feb. 14. Program staff reported registrations and participation numbers for youth programming: a beginner ice-skating class has 27 registered (ages 5–12), and other activities (junior ranger, winter camp, parks & rec outreach) recorded participants ranging from the teens to 40+ depending on program.
Volunteer coordinator Mandy (surname not stated) requested volunteers for event course marshaling for the Frosty 5K and encouraged community groups to participate in the Adopt-a-Park program, which runs on one-year agreements renewing on Jan. 1. Staff said the department already had several AdoptaPark sign-ups and maintains a volunteer sign-up site called Elkhart Helping Hands.
Superintendent Jamieson Czarnecki introduced Pamela Paradis as the department's new administrative assistant and the park board's new secretary. Paradis said she previously worked as a summer day-camp leader and at Chamberlain Elementary in Goshen and expressed enthusiasm for continuing community-facing work.
Board members praised staff for maintaining winter programming and for outreach success. Staff requested community help with volunteer roles and said they would provide signup assistance when needed.
