By MARGARET L. WILLIS

Eric Kroeger, representing the Chesterton Hometown Improvement Committee, approached the Park Board Tuesday with plans for various park unit improvements planned for this year.

The fifth annual CHIP cleanup day will be May 17.

The board was enthusiastic about the CHIP plans and agreed superintendent Bruce Mathias should coordinate with Kroeger to prioritize and guide the plans.

Kroeger said the CHIP committee plans to replace part of the fence in Thomas Park with a decorative metal fence at the northeast corner to demarcate the ‘entrance’ to downtown and the park.

Mathias showed Kroeger the plan for Thomas Park, adopted as part of the current five year plan, which includes plantings and a meandering stone wall between the park and the railroad’s line of trees.

Kroeger said his committee will take on the task of communicating with the railroad about the plan and removing their decrepit fence.

The CHIP committee also plans to begin renovation of the bandstand, removing and replacing decking and exterior wood where necessary. The committee will coordinate with the Rebuilding Together Committee so that RT can organize painting of the structure once renovations are complete.

The CHIP committee also plans to refresh the landscaping around Thomas Park, Kroeger said. Mulching a walking trail around the detention pond in Dogwood Park is another project.

More long-term the committee plans to erect welcome signage at the corner of 23rd St. and 1110 N, on the south edge of Dogwood Park. That project will be coordinated with the Park and the Chesterton/Porter Rotary after the sidewalks are complete in that area.

The park board thanked Kroeger and the CHIP committee for their ongoing commitment to the parks.

Kroeger thanked the park board for their support of the CHIP committee’s mission and added the committee is always in need of sponsors and volunteers.

Five Year Plan and

Recreation Impact Fee Plan

Some of the CHIP projects fit in quite nicely with the Five Year Plan presented by Chuck Lehman, of Lehman & Lehman, a consulting and planning firm working on the Park Department’s plan for the Recreation Impact Fee.

An initial plan presented by Lehman Tuesday included some of the CHIP proposals, as well as other ideas for use of an estimated $253,000 the fund will generate annually.

Those plans include softball and baseball fields in new park units, multi-purpose and soccer fields, basketball and volleyball courts, shelters, restrooms, community playgrounds, multi-use pathways, a dog park and a ‘sprayground’ or water splash play area.

Lehman presented the outline of RIF plans and is working with parks superintendent Mathias to update the current park five year plan to synchronize it with the plans required for the RIF.

Further public meetings will be held to garner public input for the park five year plan. The public is encouraged to attend future park board meetings.

Anyone with ideas may also contact Mathias’ office, which will forward ideas to Lehman. The park office phone number is 926-3000.

Posted 3/5/2008