Dearborn County advances park master plan review and accepts additional right-of-way in Walnut Grove

Dearborn County planning staff told commissioners on Feb. 3 that the county’s park board master plan has been submitted to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for review and that the public can review and comment on the document via the Dearborn County Parks website.

Nicole Daley, director of planning and zoning, said the plan was submitted to the state in early December, that IDNR comments were expected in February, and that staff plan to submit a final plan to the state by April 15. Daley said the county will collect additional feedback and that comments received will be incorporated before the April submission.

On a separate agenda item, Daley described a property owner’s survey proposing additional county right-of-way at the end of a dead-end road (Brightwood Drive in the Walnut Grove area) to create a cul-de-sac that will allow lot splits and provide a turnaround for service vehicles. She said the new turnaround would be shown as county right-of-way on the plat but would remain privately maintained unless property owners chose to pave or upgrade it. A commissioner moved to accept the right-of-way, a second was made, and the board voted "Aye." The chair stated the motion carries.

Why it matters: The master plan is required by IDNR for grant eligibility and can help the county compete for park-related funding; formal acceptance of the right-of-way resolves title/platting issues that enable property division and provide safer vehicle turnarounds for plows and school buses.

What comes next: The county will post the plan and comment link for public review and submit the revised plan to IDNR by mid-April. The accepted right-of-way will be shown on the plat for signature and recorded according to county process.

Sources: Remarks by Nicole Daley, director of planning and zoning, and commissioners during the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners meeting.