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Commissioners adopt 2025 Burdette Park master plan; Explore Evansville outlines priorities and costs
Summary
The county adopted a 2025 master plan for Burdette Park and heard a presentation on a possible Millersburg cross‑country course; Explore Evansville outlined four near‑term priorities and estimated a cross‑country development cost of $3.8–$6.7 million.
Vanderburgh County commissioners voted Tuesday to adopt the 2025 Burdette Park master plan after a presentation by Explore Evansville and consultants from American StructurePoint.
Tom White, president and CEO of Explore Evansville, described part of a larger study that evaluated siting a collegiate‑level cross‑country course on a county‑owned Millersburg parcel and produced an updated master plan for Burnett (Burdette) Park. "The study does not include the economic impact of those events," White said, noting the report estimates the cross‑country course construction cost between $3,800,000 and $6,700,000 and projects the potential to recruit four to 10 national‑level collegiate and high‑school events.
Why it matters: Commissioners and park staff said an updated master plan will strengthen future grant applications and guide capital priorities. Explore Evansville and StructurePoint identified four near‑term priorities for Burdette Park: renovating six overnight buildings, expanding the campground by about a dozen full‑hookup sites (and adding a restroom), increasing parking park‑wide, and replacing an aging concession stand near the aquatic center with cabana‑style amenities.
Park operations and immediate projects: Zach (park staff) reported campground and aquatic facilities are operating at high demand — the park recorded days with more than 3,600 visitors over the weekend — and said county crews and contractors had begun tearing out an older baseball facility to create additional parking and related improvements. Commissioners approved a separate purchase of a 2015 Ford utility truck from Uburn Sons to support park operations; county staff said the truck had about 70,000 miles and was purchased as a cost‑saving measure compared with new vehicles.
Public details and next steps: White emphasized the master plan’s role in positioning the park for grants and programmatic partnerships, including ADA improvements, pour‑in‑place playground surfacing and possible third‑party programming such as zip‑lining. The county approved the master plan resolution with unanimous votes. Explore Evansville said it is not requesting funding at this time but will use the study to inform future decisions and grant applications.
Ending: Commissioners praised park staff and Explore Evansville for conducting public outreach and said adoption of the plan will help guide capital spending and grant requests in the months ahead.
