Elkhart County Parks to use donations, appropriated funds for maintenance; goats to control invasive plants

Elkhart County Council on April 17 approved a $120,000 appropriation to the parks department for capital maintenance projects, and county parks staff used the meeting’s public hearing portion to outline several upcoming projects and an invasive-species control effort using goats.

Rhonda Deacare of Elkhart County Parks said the appropriation is the department’s annual capital request and will pay for items ranging from shelter repairs to playground surfacing. She told the council the department is "finishing up the DeFries house" and that "the drywall went up this week"; she estimated completion in about two months. Deacare also said staff are installing a hexagon-shaped shelter at Corson Riverwoods and that some park restrooms remain closed pending state water and well testing.

Deacare described a recurring, donor-funded goat program to manage invasive plant species. She said a prior donation of $1,000 funded goats and that the department recently received another donation of $2,500 to hire goats again this summer. "They eat the invasive plants and then it makes it easier for our staff to get into those areas," she said, adding that staff follow by spot-treating regrowth with herbicide to encourage native species recovery.

Council members asked about grand-opening timing; Deacare said the DeFries House and the Corson Riverwoods shelter are planned for openings in June or July and that the parks board would provide details to the council.

The council approved the $120,000 appropriation 7-0 and the parks presentation closed with staff noting ongoing construction inspections and state-required water testing for some facilities.