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Parks staff to expand master-plan outreach after 25‑acre acquisition; public listening sessions planned
Summary
Elkhart Parks will expand public engagement for its master plan and begins outreach, including English and Spanish options; staff confirmed the department completed acquisition of 25 acres to expand Ideal Beach planning.
Superintendent Jamieson Czarnecki told the board Elkhart Parks is launching an expanded master-plan engagement push in February, including in-person listening sessions and surveys in English and Spanish, and targeted focus groups for specific user groups such as skateboarders.
"In February, we are kicking off the master plan engagement in a much bigger way...we really see this as the final push to get as much public engagement as we can for the Hour Parks master plan," Czarnecki said. Staff recently held a skateboard focus group with about 15 participants to gather comments on existing skate parks and potential new facilities.
Czarnecki also announced that the department completed paperwork and funding to secure an additional 25 acres for park expansion at Ideal Beach. "We finally were able to secure the 25 acres. The paperwork went through and funding went through. So we are officially a go on that, and the plans for Ideal Beach will continue and have a different flare for the conversation now that we've got an expansion property," he said.
The board did not vote on policy changes at the meeting; Czarnecki said staff will host listening sessions, surveys and focus groups and welcomed suggestions for locations to host outreach events. Staff plans to pair online and in-person engagement to reach broader communities.
