Whiteland Town parks board adopts master plan, eyes parks director and grant pursuit

The Whiteland Town Parks Board voted to adopt Resolution 202601, approving the Whiteland Park and Recreation Master Plan and opening the door to grant opportunities tied to an adopted plan.

The plan — described by a consultant on the call as containing no substantive changes since the most recent draft and incorporating recent public meeting input — runs for five years and will be incorporated into the consultant’s final printed copies after the board returns the signed resolution, Carmen, a town staff member, said. "We will provide the signed resolution back to [the consultant] and they will incorporate that into the . . . comprehensive plan," Carmen said.

Why it matters: adoption makes Whiteland eligible for federal and state conservation grants that require an adopted local plan, board members said, and gives the town a framework to prioritize projects. "Once we adopt the plan and take that action tonight... it does make us eligible for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant in the 2026 grant year," a board member said.

What the board discussed: members devoted much of the meeting to how the town should act now that the plan is adopted. They flagged several next steps: share the adoption with the town council, begin budget planning for 2027 to include a parks director position, and pursue grant and partnership funding. One board member urged the board to seek a parks director who can both manage daily operations and pursue grants; the board estimated a starting salary "in the '70s" (approximate) for a qualified director and discussed whether the role could begin part-time.

The board also discussed community uses for future facilities — from before/after-school programs run by nonprofit partners to a community center that could double as an emergency-shelter site — and noted potential funding sources and matches. A board member pointed to county and neighboring-town resources for start-up help, and suggested inviting an experienced parks director from a nearby town to a future meeting for guidance.

Public comment: resident Jim Beck spoke during public comment, saying he has lived in Whiteland since the early 1980s, offering help and urging that the town coordinate activities and facilities so residents do not have to go to neighboring towns for recreation. "There's nothing's changed in since the early '80s...we need to make some changes," Beck said.

Formal action: A board member moved to adopt Resolution 202601; the motion was seconded and the chair announced the resolution was adopted. The board agreed to notify the town council and to include a request for a parks director in upcoming budget discussions.

Next steps: staff and board members said they will prepare materials for the town council and begin drafting a salary ordinance as part of the 2027 budget process, with a draft expected by July. The board also discussed pursuing grant opportunities now that the plan is adopted.

The meeting closed after public comment and brief final remarks.