the profile - summer 2015

Indiana Park & Recreation Association 1

Indiana Park & Recreation AssociationSummer 2015 www.INPRA.org Profile

the Published By:

Inside this IssueStart Receiving the Benefits

from Starting a Park Foundation

Never Too Late to Learn Something New

The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market: As Real

As It Gets

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Indiana Park & Recreation AssociationP.O. Box 3906Carmel, Indiana 46082317.573.4035 phww.inpra.org web

We need your contributionsWhat makes the Profile a success is your input, ideas, experiences, and creativity. Please consider sharing any or all of these with more than 900 members of the association. Artwork and photographs are also encouraged.

How to SubmitArticles and Photographs to:IPRA, The ProfileP.O. Box 3906Carmel, Indiana 46082317.745.3015 [email protected] email

Publication ScheduleSummerContent Deadline - July 6July DistributionFall/WinterContent Deadline - September 1October Distribution

Advertising SalesLisa Nye Ford, IPRA Executive Director

Editorial CommitteeLisa Nye Ford, Laura Stechmiller

EditorLaura [email protected]

PublisherPEN - Career Focused Reentry317.955.6800penproducts.com

Photos courtesy of Bing iStock, Pinterest, lwcfcoalition.org, AmishCounty.org/Flickr and DNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine.

follow us on facebook at:Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Mission StatementThe Indiana Park & Recreation Association advances healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship by providing education, professional development, resources and advocacy.

Advertisers 2 Rundell Ernstberger Associates

3 Miracle Midwest

5 Cornerstone PDS

6 Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf

7 Countryside Play Structures

8 Playworld Midstates

9 Lehman & Lehman

10 Spear Corporation

11 Norwalk Concrete Industries

21 Ratio Architects

22 Leisure Pool & Spa Supply Inc.

26 RenoSys

27 Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc.

28 PEN - Career Focused Reentry

33 Context Landscape Architecture

38 The Arsh Group, Inc.

38 Lester Recreation Designs

39 Parkreation

40 Musco Sports Lighting

The Profile was printed by PEN - Career Focused Reentry

A Division of the Indiana Department of Correction.

Inside this issue 5 Leadership Team 7 From the Executive Director 9 From the President 11 Where Are They Now? 12 District & Section News 13 Working Through, Together & Towards Better Parks 13 CPSI and AFO Training 14 IPRA’s 2015 Fall Retreat 15 Hear that Buzz?... 16 2016 IPRA Conference 18 The State of Indiana and State Parks Celebrating... 19 110 Years of Family Fun 20 Man’s Best Friend–A Park for the Dogs... 23 The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market... 24 2015 Dollars for Scholars 27 From the IPRA Foundation President 29 Sharing Ideas, Experiences and Best Practices 30 NRPA 2015 Annual Conference 31 Start Receiving the Benefits from Starting a Park Foundation 32 Sports Indiana Member Communities Partnering... 33 Never Too Late to Learn Something New 34 Approaches to Public Health & Parks and Rec. in Indiana 36 Meet A Fresh Face 37 National Park & Recreation Association News 38 2015-16 IPRA Event Calendar

Vision Statement The Indiana Park &

Recreation Association is the premier source of support and

advancement for parks and recreation providers.


2015 IPRA Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Board of Directors

PresidentMike HoffmeisterNoblesville Parks & [email protected]

President-Elect Becky Barrick-HigginsBloomington Parks & [email protected]

Past President Philip ParninBrownsburg Parks & [email protected]

Northern DistrictMark HeintzTown of [email protected]

Central DistrictNikki MontembeaultWashington Township Parks [email protected]

Southern DistrictJim Lemke Columbus Parks & Recreation [email protected]

NRTG Board RepresentativeAdam GrossmanVigo County Parks & [email protected]

Aquatics Board RepresentativeMike ClendenenNew Haven-Adams Township Park & Recreation [email protected]

Recreation & Programming RepresentativeJessica Costello Munster Parks & Recreation [email protected]

Vendor RepresentativeRyan CambridgeBrowning Day Mullins [email protected]

Ex-Offico MemberLisa Nye FordIndiana Park & Recreation [email protected]

IPRA StaffLaura StechmillerIndiana Park & Recreation [email protected]

Young ProfessionalTravis Tranbarger,Brownsburg Parks & [email protected]

Executive Committee

ChairMike Hoffmeister, PresidentNoblesville Parks & Recreation

MembersBecky Barrick-HigginsBloomington Parks & Recreation

Philip ParninBrownsburg Parks & Recreation

Will LaceyDanville Parks & Recreation

Amber Mink Fishers Parks & Recreation

Ryan CambridgeBrowning Day Mullins Dierdorf

Ex-Offico Lisa Nye FordIndiana Park & Recreation Association

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From the Executive Director

recorded, and will be available on-demand from the IPRA/Eppley website. Distance learning is not a replacement for face-to-face educational sessions, but it is an important element in a balanced approach.

Other additions include; a leadership series for new managers/supervisors aimed at providing all the necessary tools to become an effective leader. These six full-day sessions will alternate locations around the State. Look for the following certification opportunities as well; First Aid/CPR/AED, CPO, AFO, CPSI and we will add Stewards for Children.

The leadership and staff are working together on a shared vision of making IPRA stronger, with a clear voice for park and recreation professionals. Please, let us know how we are doing! We’d love to hear YOUR ideas.

Lisa Nye Ford, Executive DirectorIndiana Park & Recreation Association

This has been a very busy summer for the IPRA Board,

Executive Committee and staff. If I were to sum it up in just three words, they would be challenges, excitement and possibilities. • Challenges - they come with all

transitions and it takes a strong leadership team with great communication skills and dedication to the organization to get everyone aligned with a shared vision and goals.

• Excitement - because every challenge has presented an exciting opportunity to improve on what we are doing, or try something completely new to better serve members and provide them with the tools they need to excel.

• Possibilities - the leadership has created an environment that encourages the exploration of the many ways to grow and strengthen

IPRA and the services provided to members.

There are a lot of exciting changes coming to IPRA, and each of them is focused on providing greater value and high quality benefits to members. 2016 will bring renewed emphasis on training. We have assembled a balanced and comprehensive calendar that will expand content, quantity and delivery methods. The three year partnership we’ve entered into with the Eppley Institute will allow us to present university quality education that will be CEU eligible, while enabling us to utilize technology to maximize the number of professionals who can participate. A team of IPRA members representing many different types of departments has been working with Eppley staff to determine content based on the many topics requested. Four webinars are planned for Q4 of 2015, with a series of 12 webinars to follow in 2016. Each of these will be

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11th at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville. The outing raised over $10,000 for the foundation, the most that has ever been raised from this event!

Big news to be aware of includes the previously mentioned Eppley Institute webinar series coming this fall. With IPRA being a member based service organization, we realize that YOU, the members must be pleased with what IPRA is offering and this partnership is certainly a win for all involved. The Eppley Institute hosted two town

hall meetings to get the opinions of IPRA members about what type of continued education they’d like to see that IPRA currently may not provide or what they would want to see in the webinar classes. These meetings were incredibly successful (Thank you to those that participated!) and you should see more information about the first webinars of the year soon!

I hope you all recognize the efforts being put in by the IPRA Staff, the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and the IPRA Foundation. IPRA and IPRF are doing big things in 2015 and plan to continue in 2016. I hope to see you at all of the upcoming IPRA events and with you all the best of luck through the rest of the summer and into the fall!

Mike Hoffmeister,2015 IPRA [email protected]

From the President

Hello IPRA!

I hope that all of those that are reading this now are enjoying a great summer season and that your staffs, programs, events, parks, golf courses and aquatic centers are running smoothly. IPRA staff, the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and the IPRA Foundation have all been working incredibly hard to make big things happen FOR YOU, the members. Lisa Nye Ford has been doing a great job in this her first year, leading the charge. It has truly been a year of transition as we have shored up our financial reporting and membership, completed a compilation of the books, reviewed and changed the IPRA Policies and Procedures, partnered with the Eppley Institute to provide more member services (more on this later). Even with all of that we still plan to have a By-Law Review, put together a Membership Recruitment Strategy (which the IPRA interns have already started by collecting tons of data!) and, of course, continue to plan the district, section and other fall events.

The IPRA Staff, Board of Directors, Executive Committee and IPRA Foundation have really come together

to work as a single unit rather than four individual committees. Because of this, decisions are made with all groups and member representation in mind. A retreat was had in the spring for all four groups to create a camaraderie between them that may never have been there in the past.

The IPRA Foundation has also shored up its Board of Directors, procedures and financials. It also completed a compilation of their books. New board members were added so that clear transparency is had between IPRA, its board and the Foundation. The IPRA Foundation Dollars for Scholars Golf Outing was held on June

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Norwalk Concrete IndustriesQuality Precast Since 1906

Precast Concrete Restroom/Concession Buildings

80 Commerce Drive • Norwalk, Ohio 44857www.nciprecast.com • 800.733.3624

During his career Chuck served on the Indiana Parks

and Recreation Association Board for 10 years and was President in 1982. He represented the IPRA Board on the NRPA Great Lakes Regional Council for 15 years. He received the IPRA Outstanding Professional Award in 1983 and the Distinguished Life Member Award in 2011. He has also served as President of the National Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration, the Columbus Area Visitors Center, and Co-Chair of the Hoosier State Games.

Chuck worked in the Parks and Recreation Field for about 40 years. He worked in recreation administrative positions in Toledo and Kent, Ohio. He was Recreation Director for the Cummins Engine Company and in Personnel Management in Columbus, Indiana. He became Director of Parks and Recreation in 1977 for Columbus and retired 33 years later in 2010.

Chuck’s decision to pursue a Parks

and Recreation career was influenced by his Father, Charles Wilt,Sr who was Recreation Manager for General Electric in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Chuck saw how much his Dad loved his work and the joy he got working with people. Another influence was Chuck’s experience at Indiana University. He received his B.S. Degree in Recreation and was blessed with having such great legendary recreation instructors such as Dick Lawson, Tony Mobley, Ted Deppe, Janet MacClean,Garrett Eppley, Rey Carlsen and Jim Peterson. He also got great support and encouragement from his wife, Geri, whom he met at I.U.

The highlight of Chuck’s career was seeing the city of Columbus grow through God’s guidance into one of the top Parks and Recreation Departments in Indiana and the nation. In 1995 the Park Board, Staff and community was recognized with the NRPA National Gold Medal Award.

Since his retirement in 2010 Chuck has continued to serve as a Lifetime Board Member of the Columbus Park Foundation.

He is involved in fundraising for youth scholarships and special projects. He also is a mentor to the department staff. He and his wife now live full-time in The Villages, Florida, where there are over 100,000 people and world class parks and recreation facilities.

Chuck is participating in bowling and billiard leagues and playing golf. He has found the greatest joy in serving his Lord as Chair of the Board of Elders at the 1,000 member Trinity Lutheran Church.

The one piece of advice he would have for current Parks and Recreation Professionals is to let God guide their decisions and to focus on collaboration and cooperation. It is important to have an abundance mentality. You can’t do it all and should focus on what your department does best and complement with other city or county departments and other recreation agencies on what they do best. There are plenty of resources for everyone if you are willing to share. If you do, then you will have total community support as an essential service.

Where Are They Now?Chuck Wilt

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District

and Section

NewsNorthern DistrictThe northern district last met on May 20th in Peru,

the “Circus Capital of the World”, hosted by Parks

Superintendent Adrian Roach and Mayor Jim Walker.

An interesting fact about Peru is that each July Peru

hosts a world class youth circus and parade. Consider

it as a future day trip idea for your department or as a

destination for your own recreational pursuits. The parade

is the 2nd largest in the State of Indiana. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us at the

remaining northern district meetings for 2015.

• August 19 hosted by the Town of Culver

Parks and Recreation• October 21 hosted by the City of Valparaiso

Parks and Recreation• November 18 hosted by the City of Crown Point

Parks and RecreationWatch for future details on these meetings in the weekly

What’s Up Wednesday emails as the meeting dates

approach or contact me at your convenience.

Have Fun!

Mark HeintzDirector of Parks and Recreation

Town of DyerIPRA Northern District Chair 2015

Aquatics Section Update

On April 23rd we held our Spring Aquatics Workshop

at the Plainfield Recreation & Aquatic Center. Ken

Kavanagh with the Indiana State Department of Health

reviewed some of the more important pool rules,

Marc Yoder from Leisure Pools and myself gave the

30 attendees an update on the work the Indiana Pool

Code Advisory Committee is doing. This committee

was formed by the department of health to study the

Model Aquatic Health Code and what parts the State

of Indiana should consider adopting. Marc also gave

a presentation along with Aimee Shimasaki from

Martin-Riley on some of the more recent design trends

in new pool construction and renovation. After lunch

attendees were given a tour of the Plainfield Recreation

& Aquatic Center. I would like to thank Premier Aquatic

Construction and Martin-Riley for sponsoring the

workshop and to Nate Thorn and his staff for being such

gracious hosts and tour guide.

Our Fall Aquatics meeting will be held October 1st

in Bloomington. We are working on a location and

topics. Registration info will be available in the What’s

Up Wednesday newsletter and IPRA Calendar once

finalized.

Mike ClendenenSuperintendent, New Haven-Adams Twp. Parks & Recreation

Central District

“Quite the rainy summer thus far, but it’s not keeping

your Central District team from planning a fantastic

opportunity for you at an August meeting about the

Indianapolis Cultural Trail (see website for dates/times)!

Then, in October we will be hosting a co-meeting with

our fellow Southern District members at the beautiful

Brown County State Park! We look forward to seeing

you at our upcoming meetings and in the meantime,

stop doing those rain dances!”

Nikki Montembeault

Washington Township Park

NRTG UpdateI hope everyone is having a good summer and all is

well within your parks. Due to the fact the implements

workshop had to be canceled to lack of participation,

we are working diligently on the next two workshops

to make sure they are fulling all of your professional

development needs. Please help promote, and attend

the Prairie Grass and Wildflower workshop and the

Bike and Pedestrian workshops. If anyone has any

suggestions, connections, or comments they can be

emailed to sjames.parksgmail.com.”Adam GrossmanVigo County Parks

Southern District Update

Please contact Jim Lemke ([email protected])

if you have any suggestions/ideas or host sites for the

upcoming Southern District Meetings.


Working Through, Together & Towards Better ParksBy: Donny Aleo

The City of Nappanee Parks and Recreation Department consists of over 260 acres of greenspace and park land. 2016 will bring several changes to the City of Nappanee, as well as the Parks and Recreation Department, as Mayor Larry Thompson will be retiring after 20 years. He has played a vital role in the expansion of our park system, including the completion of the Callendar Sportsplex, expansion of our beautiful McCormick Creek golf course and the latest edition of “Well-Field Park”, a 30 acre soccer complex built atop our future drinking water source. The City’s 28 million dollar combined sewer overflow project (C.S.O.) will commence later this year and will be the largest public works project in our community’s history. The majority of the project will be running through Stauffer Park, which is the life blood of our park system.

From the beginning, the Mayor has challenged me to make the best of our opportunity and to put our park back together, better than its current state. I have been working closely with our Utility Manager, Commonwealth Engineers, and Earth Plan/Earth Source, to ensure

that the rebuild of the affected green space and structures conforms to our current master plan and our “WOW” vision of the future. I have learned a lot through the process and have worked closely with project engineers to save as many mature trees as possible and to enhance affected facilities without altering historic usages. However, the project may allow a few needed changes to facilities as well as a facelift to others. In 2016/2017 Stauffer Park will see its tennis and basketball courts resurfaced, a new restroom facility, and the addition of a new bike/walking path connecting our park system East to West. The project will also allow the opportunity for needed maintenance on our community built “Little Paws” playground and our picnic shelters. As mentioned above, Mayor Thompson has always been a park advocate (he was a Park Board member before he was Mayor) and he is personally seeking private funds to develop a 1.3 million dollar, 2 field little league facility. The

facility would be built on the “old softball” site that will be affected by the C.S.O. project. The C.S.O. project will then terminate at the south end of our Well-field Park soccer complex. We have been working for almost a year with NorthWood High School and the NorthWood Soccer Club to build an artificial turf soccer stadium on the site using T.I.F. (Tax increment financing) dollars. This 3 million dollar project would benefit the Parks Department, the school corporation, Boys and Girls Club, and several local service groups. Though the Mayor will not see the completion of these projects during his final term, he certainly is and will be there biggest cheerleader. I will work diligently to see these projects through completion and do my best to secure funds as needed and fortunately for us, our future looks bright with Mayor Elect Jenkins.

CPSI and AFO Training Information

Join IPRA for CPSI Training!Certified Playground Safety InspectorNovember 11 - 13, 2015Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation1235 Central Park Drive, E. Carmel, Indiana 46032

Join Us for AFO Training!Aquatics Facility OperatorJanuary 5 & 6, 2016Krannert Family Center in Indianapolis605 S. High School Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46221

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IPRA’s 2015 Fall Retreat at Bradford Woods

Join IPRA to learn more about Risk Management and

Compliance with federal and state regulations

Get answers to the following critical questions:• The Affordable Care Act: What does it mean for municipalities?

• The Americans with Disabilities Act: What’s new and/or proposed that affects parks?

• PCI / EMV: October is the deadline for retailers (anyone accepting credit card payments) to move to EMV enabled card processors. Will your organization

be in compliance? If not, what is the risk?

September 23rd 11:00 a Registration / Networking 11:30 a Lunch & Roundtable Discussion 1:00 - 2:30 p ADA Session 2:30 - 4:00 p Zip Lining 6:30 p Cookout 7:30 p Campfire and Music

September 24th 8:00 a Breakfast 8:30 - 10:00 a ACA Session 10:00 - 11:30 a IPRA Membership Services Discussion 11:30 a Closing Remarks 12:00 p IPRA Board / Executive Committee Meeting

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express in Martinsville3.5 miles from Bradford Woods. ph: (765) 813-3999

Group Rate: $83.00

Group Name: Indiana Parks and Recreation Association

Group Code: IPR

Members: $75.00 • Non-Members: $90.00One Day Only: $50

September

23&24


What was 13,000 square feet of open green space in Williams Park has been transformed into Brownsburg’s first pollinator garden. Brownsburg Parks’ five-year Master Plan highlights concepts for beautification projects within the parks. One of these projects has been completed as a pollinator garden. In May 2015, Brownsburg Parks and Dow AgroSciences teamed up to build this new habitat for pollinators. The goal of this garden is to increase the amount of pollinators in the area while also creating an environment for youth and families to learn about their importance.

Did you know that pollinators aren’t just bees? Pollinators are any animal that moves pollen from a male flower to a female flower. While bees are pollinators, so are butterflies, birds, flies, hummingbirds and bats, just to name a few! Each of these is important to the environment. Throughout the world, pollinators have a 75 percent reproductive success rate for flowering plants. Fruits and nuts are contingent on pollinators. Without these animals carrying pollen from plant to plant, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy delicious, healthy foods such as blueberries, apples, oranges, tomatoes, or almonds. More than 150 food crops in the United States depend on pollinators!

Now, you might be asking yourself, “Why a pollinator garden for beautification?” The

answer is because pollinator gardens are basically flower gardens! The pollinator garden in Williams Park is home to more than 2,000 flowering plants, making it a very large space for these pollinators to do their jobs.

How did Dow AgroSciences and Brownsburg Parks unite? Dow AgroSciences has many employees that call the Town of Brownsburg, and surrounding areas, home. One of these employees serves on the Brownsburg Park Board. This employee noticed how adamant Brownsburg Parks was about building sustainable systems within the parks from the schematic designs in the Master Plan. The Dow AgroSciences Lawn and Landscape Team quickly became involved in discussing ideas regarding upcoming projects within the Parks Department. This led to collaboration between Dow AgroSciences and Brownsburg Parks as the development of a pollinator garden was seen as a great opportunity to share with the community.

After several Dow AgroSciences employees dedicated their time and expertise to develop the plan for the pollinator garden, Dow AgroSciences had about 50 volunteers help with the installation of all the plants and mulch along with Brownsburg Park Board members and park staff. The Dow AgroSciences Lawn and Landscape team donated more than 2,000 plants, more than 80 yards of mulch, and other materials used to develop the pollinator garden.

Brownsburg Parks prepared the area in Williams Park by removing sod and took the responsibility of the necessary tilling and prep work to get the area ready for the pollinator garden installation.

Brownsburg’s Boy Scout Troop 397 volunteered with the installation of the plants and spreading the mulch. This Troop has also adopted part of the new pollinator garden and will be responsible for annual maintenance to preserve the beauty of all the plants and paths.

A main goal of the pollinator garden is to create a learning environment about the importance of pollinators for youth and families. Brownsburg’s Town Manager stated, “As we continue to grow and affect areas or open and unimpeded growth of wild flowers and other plants, pollinator gardens are the Town’s way of giving back to the environment to provide plants for pollination to bees, butterflies, and the like.”

Pollinator gardens similar to this will be implemented in more parks in the Town of Brownsburg. Our goal is to lessen the negative impact of community growth on the environment and preserve more space for these pollinators.

Hear that Buzz? Brownsburg Parks Welcomes a Pollinator GardenBy: Shelby Marshall

During planting

Completion

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Your conference committee has been hard at work planning our conference to kick off Indiana Park and Recreation’s centennial year. Recruiting education session proposals for our conference in January. Our goal is to provide conference attendees with diverse, quality sessions in the following tracks: administration, programming, health & wellness, operations and natural resources. We have extended the deadline for session proposals until August 31st. If you or someone you know has information to share please contact Bill Ream, our education session chair, at [email protected]. We can walk you through the proposal process and offer tips on creating a great educational session.

Conference highlights include: Cam Sholly, Midwest Regional Director for the National Park Service as our keynote speaker. A new conference schedule allowing goers the opportunity to attend the awards banquet on Wednesday evening. Socials including networking experiences for new conference goers. A face lift for our award categories. A new look in the expo hall adding a lounge area. For the first time, pre-conference sessions Monday and Tuesday on Strength Based Leadership, Integrating Public Health into the Master Planning Process, and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification, and Stewards of Children training.

So make your plans now and come ready to advise, inspire and share. We believe there is something for everyone. Look for upcoming registration and additional conference information in the near future. We are excited to offer this new experience and look forward to seeing all of you in Bloomington in January.

Becky Barrick-HigginsConference ChairPresident-Elect

2016 Conference Bloomington, IndianaJanuary 13-15, 2016

Courtyard Bloomington - Marriott310 S. College Ave., Bloomington

$114 per nightReserve your room at: www.inpra.org/hotel-information

Last day to reserve a room is Dec. 10, 2015

Conference events will be held next door at the Bloomington Monroe County Convention Center.

Accommodations & Conference Information

The Indiana Park & Recreation Association Annual Awards of Excellence

The Indiana Park & Recreation Association Annual Awards of Excellence recognizes agencies throughout Indiana that embody the vision, dedication and excellence in parks and recreation. These awards highlight the efforts that transcend everyday standards to make a difference and improve the quality of life in our Indiana communities. IPRA award winners include park and recreation professionals, organizations, agencies and volunteers.

Each award has specific eligibility criteria. All applicants must be current IPRA members.

All nominating IPRA agency members must submit an electronic form including; a position statement describing the primary reason for being recognized, background information and their contributions to their community and a summation describing how the individual or project/program has impacted and shown the importance of parks and recreation. Also please provide any supporting documents or photos that can give us a better understanding of your project or program. There is no specific length requirement for the document. Incomplete plans and/or designs are ineligible. All projects or programs must be completed by the timeframe of the due date.

Recipients must be present at the IPRA Annual Conference to receive the award.


The 2015 Awards of Excellence For projects completed August 1, 2014 - August 1, 2015Leadership Categories Outstanding Agency Award:The Outstanding Agency Award identifies an exceptional IPRA agency who shows involvement and significant contributions to the parks and recreation field. This agency strives to improve the quality of life to both their community and to the state of Indiana.

Distinguished Life Member Award:The Distinguished Life Member Award acknowledges a parks and recreation professional who has dedicated their time to improving the quality of their community and supporting the parks and recreation movement through Indiana. This individual has shown strong leadership through community outreach, inspiration to others, and note-worthy contributions to the field of parks and recreation. The nominee must have at least 20 years of IPRA involvement and has served at least 5 years in an IPRA leadership position. Recipients will receive a lifetime membership with IPRA.

Along with the guidelines stated above, please indicate how the nominee devoted his or her 20 or more years to the involvement with IPRA and outstanding service to his or her community.

Outstanding Corporate Partnership Award:The Outstanding Corporate Partnership Award recognizes a vendor, company, or individual who has significantly contributed to the field of parks and recreation and developed a strong partnership with IPRA. This vendor, company, or individual has shown great leadership and support to the parks and recreation field by providing either equipment, volunteer time, in-kind services, or other contributions to a project or program that benefits the community and demonstrates the importance of parks and recreation.

Outstanding Professional Award:The Outstanding Professional Award is presented to an individual for their exceptional impact on the field of parks and recreation. Nominees should have a record of noteworthy and special contributions to the parks profession, demonstrate leadership and advocacy, display remarkable service to their agency, and be a source of professional guidance and inspiration. Must be an IPRA member.

Young Professional Award:The Young Professional Award is presented to a current parks and recreation professional who exhibits the attributes of an emerging leader, as displayed through their initiative, innovation, and contributions to the park and recreation field. Nominees should possess a record of career advancement, be engaged in professional and/or community organizations, and demonstrate outstanding service to their agency. Must be an IPRA member and 35 years of age or younger.

Distinguished Citizen Award:The Distinguished Citizen Award recognizes a citizen, community park board member, or volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional efforts towards enhancing and supporting parks and recreation in their community and/or Indiana. Nominees may be recognized for a record of cumulative service or for their endeavors related to a single project or activity of significance.

Elected Official of the Year Award:The Elected Official of the Year Award will be presented to an individual who provides exemplary support to parks and recreation. This individual has made significant contributions to parks and recreation field through active participation, advocacy, or through policy and legislation. This individual can be at the local, county, regional, state, or federal level.

Project & Program Categories The Excellence in Landscape Design Award:The Excellence in Landscape Design Award projects include garden design, landscape art, sculptures and pathways, improvement on landscape projects and maintenance.

The Exceptional Facility Design Award:The Exceptional Facility Design Award projects include indoor pools and indoor sports complexes, community centers, information centers, gymnasiums, picnic shelters, restrooms, lighting, water sewer systems and parking lots, or other amenities.

The Exceptional Park Design Award:The Exceptional Park Design Award are projects that contain facility and landscape components. Examples would be sports fields, playgrounds, splash pads, trails and linear parks, skate parks, dog parks, and outdoor aquatic facilities.

Innovative Program Award:The Innovative Program Award honors programs pertaining to senior and active adults, youth and families, cultural arts, health and fitness, community wellness and more.

Innovative Event Award:The Innovative Event Award honors events pertaining to senior and active adults, youth and families, cultural arts, health and fitness, community wellness and more.

Inclusion Program of Excellence Award:The Inclusion Program of Excellence Award praises an organization or agency for their achievements pertaining to a program or project that increases awareness and benefits of parks and recreation. This award highlights and acknowledges the organization’s effort and determination to provide inclusive opportunities and programming to their community.

Clark Ketchum Conservation Award:The Clark Ketchum Conservation Award recognizes a park and recreation agency that has achieved excellence in conservational stewardship.

Good to Great Award:The Excellence in Resource Improvement Award recognizes an agency or park team for its exceptional management of an existing park, trail, natural area, recreation, and/or aquatic facility asset over time. Nominees should demonstrate a record of improvement through quality maintenance and operations, efforts to retain and enhance the resource over time, creative problem-solving in the areas of budget, staffing, physical and/or environmental constraints, and/or introduction of new programs or activities that ensure continued use and optimization of the asset.

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The State of Indiana and Indiana State Parks Celebrating Centennial Birthdays in 2016By: Benjamin Clark, M.A. Indiana Division of State Parks

Indiana will celebrate its 200th birthday next year in 2016. And Indiana State Parks will celebrate its 100th birthday next year. This is no coincidence. Indiana State Parks was given to the people of Indiana as a gift to celebrate the state’s centennial in 1916. The beginnings of our state parks system can be traced to the hard work and dedication of a number of people, but no one more so than Richard Lieber. He is considered to be the father of Indiana State Parks.

Richard Lieber was born in Germany in 1869. In 1891 he moved to Indianapolis to live with two uncles. His first job in Indiana was working as a reporter for the Indiana Tribune. Lieber married Emma Rappaport, daughter of the newspaper’s owner. Lieber was known to be a hardworking and pragmatic person with inborn leadership qualities. This work ethic would pay off when it came to starting Indiana State Parks. As a conservationist, he spearheaded the effort to establish a state parks system in Indiana. He believed that a parks system should be created not only as part of Indiana’s celebration of its centennial in 1916 but also to create space for people to enjoy the outdoors and connect to history in a tangible way. Lieber was part of what has been dubbed the Progressive Era, demonstrated by his belief in social progress through the restorative powers of nature and in the incorruptible political activism of citizens. Lieber was also deeply interested in the pioneer era in Indiana. He saw a strong link between conserving natural resources and preserving Indiana’s history. In 1917, he wrote:

natural monuments stand not only as landmarks of our state’s history, not only as those of the entire west territory out of which Indiana was carved, but they will, with their ancient rocks, dells, and giant trees, continue to preach a silent but mighty sermon to generations yet unborn of the struggles, hopes, and ambitions of pioneer days.

As early as 1910, Lieber was advocating for a system of state parks that would conserve natural resources and preserve cultural resources. There was strong support for the idea of establishing at least one state park to honor the approaching 100th birthday of Indiana’s statehood in 1916.

The idea gained traction when, in 1915, the heavily forested area with sandstone canyons known as Turkey Run became available. Upon the death of John Lusk, the last remaining member of the Lusk family who had owned and largely preserved the land since the mid-1800s, the Hoosier Veneer Company became interested in the land for its rich timber resources but so did a local writer named Juliet Strauss. Strauss was a native of Parke County where Turkey Run is located and worked as a columnist for the Rockville newspaper and the Indianapolis News.

She was born in Rockville, Indiana in 1863. She loved nature and would wander the forests near her home. As a girl, Strauss always seemed to have a knack for writing. Her love of nature and her talent for writing served her well and would ensure her legacy as a part of Indiana’s history. In 1915 Strauss had the opportunity to use her voice to preserve the forest at Turkey Run in Parke County. Strauss began her campaign to save Turkey Run by writing to the governor, Samuel Ralston, asking for his help. Ralston was inspired and so appointed a Turkey Run Commission, which included Strauss. He tasked them with preserving this virgin forest. Around this time Strauss was introduced to Richard Lieber through a mutual friend. As a leading conservationist, Lieber was immediately interested in saving Turkey Run. He seized the chance to promote his idea of a state parks system in Indiana.

The state sought to buy the land at auction but lost to the Hoosier Veneer Company. Lieber’s involvement gained him an appointment by Gov. Ralston to the Turkey Run Commission as well as the Indiana Historical Commission, which was purposed with directing activities to commemorate Indiana’s coming centennial. The Turkey Run Commission was absorbed into the State Park Committee in 1916, at which time the group set their sights on raising money to buy back Turkey Run. The Committee had wide public support and was able to raise enough money, including a donation of a portion of the gate receipts from the Indianapolis 500,

to buy back the land at a healthy profit for the Hoosier Veneer Company.

But timing is everything. Sensing the urgency of establishing a state park system in 1916, the Committee had other irons in the fire. They had considered the unique sand dunes along Indiana’s Lake Michigan shore or the picturesque hills of Brown County (both of which eventually became state parks) and the rugged canyons of McCormick’s Creek. This area had recently come up for sale and the State Park Committee was able to combine funds with Owen County to purchase the land for a state park. McCormick’s Creek officially opened as Indiana’s first state park on July 4th, 1916 followed later that year by Turkey Run.

In the ensuing years Indiana added many more state parks. The goal was to have a state park within an hour’s drive of every Hoosier. We achieved this goal in 2004 when we opened a new state park near Battle Ground, Indiana and named it Prophetstown State Park. Richard Lieber’s legacy continues to inspire us and we look forward to the next 100 years of Indiana State Parks, but always with gratitude for Richard Lieber’s contributions.

For more information about how we plan to celebrate our 100th birthday please visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/5901.htm. We will mark the Indiana State Parks Centennial in a variety of ways. We will hold celebrations at each of our properties. For more information check out our events calendar at http://www.in.gov/activecalendar_dnr/. In addition, we have developed an elementary school curriculum that looks at the history of Indiana through the lens of our state parks. These lesson plans meet the standards set by the Department of Education for content in a variety subjects, not just history and social studies, but English, art, and science as well. This curriculum is web-based and can be accessed for free by anyone at http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/8280.htm. Any classes or homeschool groups who can show proof that they’ve completed lessons will receive a free one day pass for each student. The pass will let the entire family into the park for the day.

Who knows? A visit may inspire a 21st Century visionary leader for parks who will walk in Lieber’s footsteps and lead us to our 200th birthday.


Anyone who works in Parks & Recreation knows that providing opportunities for play involves a lot of work, so it’s great when we can take time to revel in our accomplishments. The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department did just that, celebrating the 110th anniversary of our park system on July 28th with a huge community party called “110 Years of Family Fun.” Close to 2,000 people attended the free event under the Lincoln Financial Pavilion in Headwaters Park, although the temperature was nearly ninety degrees. The Parks & Recreation staff served picnic food, cake and endless bottles of water. Local dance groups and singers performed on stage, including Trichotomous Hippopotamus, a popular rock band from the area. We had inflatables, a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, FootGolf and putting competitions, children’s carnival games with prizes, horse-drawn carriage rides, and the list goes on. We gave away concert tickets and anniversary wrist bands to those who arrived first. We also had a drawing for some bigger prizes like memberships to the Botanical Conservatory, summer day camps and our golf courses. We couldn’t have pulled off such a colossal celebration without a long list of cash sponsors and one of our favorite radio stations spreading the word.

As we neared our anniversary, we gathered a list of our most significant accomplishments in the last decade. (We already highlighted the first century’s accomplishments during our 100-year celebration.) We’ve been a Tree City USA for 25 years, have been nationally accredited by CAPRA for 10

years, a “Playful City USA Community” for 6 years and we’re working on our second year of being a Birdtown Indiana. We established a Legacy Program to recognize parks that reach their 100th anniversary and an Adopt-a-Playground volunteer program to help keep our parks safe and clean. We developed part of Buckner Park from donated land, we dedicated Robert E. Meyers Park at Parkview Field baseball stadium, and we built Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground in Kreager Park. Taylor’s Dream was recently named one of the top 50 playgrounds in the country.

McMillen Park Community Center, our 83,000 square foot renovated facility, formerly an indoor ice rink, celebrated its first anniversary in June. The Center hasn’t slowed down since the day it opened. One of the most popular amenities is the accessible Kids’ Korner Indoor Playground, but McMillen features fun and games for all ages. The indoor walking track is well used in the cold winter months, as well as during the hottest summer days. There

are pickleball courts and two arenas for soccer, basketball and volleyball. The sports equipment is portable and can be moved to accommodate the numerous events and nonstop rentals at the facility.

We’ve made quite a few improvements at Foellinger Outdoor Theatre to accommodate the increased number of national acts our promoter brings in, as well as the larger crowds attending concerts over the last several years. The restrooms and

dressing rooms were renovated, the sound system was improved, and the rigging was replaced with an automated truss system to make it easier for groups to hang their speakers. We also added 276 seats in the former orchestra pit right in front of the stage, giving the Theatre a total of 2,730 seats and 21 spaces for people with disabilities.

In July, we opened Camp Canine, our second dog park, next to Johnny Appleseed Campground. This will give the public, and campers, a chance to utilize the 60,000 square foot play space for dogs, if they have proof of their dog’s vaccinations and purchase a “Pooch Pass” for a nominal fee. Camp Canine is divided into two separate areas so that we can clean, reseed and fertilize one side while keeping the other side open. A 600 foot open-air shelter and patio with picnic tables was also constructed in the dog park and there are bone-shaped benches and fire hydrants positioned throughout the grassy area. Of course we included a couple of drinking fountains with doggie drinkers and “Doggie-Pot” waste stations too.

In October, we’ll break ground on Franklin Park. This 93-year-old school was razed late last year, but the four ornamental masonry door archways were protected in order to respect the school’s historical significance. Those arches have been incorporated into the park design. The much-anticipated park will include a splash pad and a pavilion, based on feedback from area residents.

Going forward, we’ve received a grant to construct new solar energy projects at McMillen Park, Shoaff Park and the new Franklin Park. It doesn’t look like the work is going to slow down any time soon, which means we’ll have plenty to celebrate when we reach our 115th anniversary!

110 Years of Family FunBy: Natalie Eggerman

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In the last 30 years, the dog population in the United States has doubled as more people seek the companionship of a dog. Reflecting this trend, public demand for an off leash park for dogs in Carmel increased from 9% in 2000 to 32% in 2012. After years of discussion, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation’s first dog park opened this summer for the enjoyment of dog owners and their companions.

A dog park has been in the master-plan of Central Park since 2001 when the first public meetings were held to determine what Carmel residents wanted in the new park. It was clear that many wanted a place they could take their dog off leash to run, feel the breeze rushing past their flappy ears, hear the grass crunch between their paws, and run around wildly with new friends. Ultimately the dog park was not built as part of the original project but was pushed off into the future.

As part of the master-planning process for the North Campus development of Central Park, the dog park was included in the discussion. Through a series of public input meetings in 2012 and 2013 the basic location and framework of the dog park took shape. The Schneider Corporation was picked as the firm to design the dog park and lead the effort through bid and construction.

The design took in account many site challenges, such as most of the dog park being within a floodplain, a stream at the edge of the development area, and the storage and cleaning of runoff from the parking lot as well as control of fecal matter to keep it from contaminating the water shed. In April of this year, CCPR met with a steering committee, a group of individuals from veterinary offices, the humane society, and residents, to discuss an operations plan for the dog park. This plan included everything from findings and recommendations for membership rates, the selection process, features and amenities to dog DNA testing.

Man’s Best Friend–A Park for the Dogs (and their two-legged friends)By: Lindsay Labas, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation

Based on conversations with other park systems with dog parks, along with observations from our existing parks and greenways, it became clear to CCPR that the number one issue would be encouraging human visitors to pick up after their dogs. With up to 40% of pet waste left un-scooped, the problem ranks at #6 on America’s Top Gripes list, according to a January 2010 Consumer Reports survey. It was an issue CCPR wanted to not only attempt to stop, but to educate the public on the harmful effects. To this effect, CCPR teamed up with PooPrints™, a BioPet Vet lab specializing in dog DNA testing.

While what on the surface sounds like a crazy idea to many people, dog DNA testing was an easy decision based on the health and safety issues and environmental impact it has to humans, other dogs, and parks. CCPR’s dog park, the Central Bark Park, lies within a watershed. This means that the pathogens left from the non-disposed-of fecal matter would runoff and pollute the nearby creek. This water ultimately flows into White River, which serves as a water source for residents through the metropolitan area and state.

Dog waste is the #3 cause of water pollution and can lead to fecal coliform in water and disease-causing strains of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. When consumed by humans, this can result in nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and in rare instances, death. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), waste is one vehicle from which zoonotic diseases pass from pets to humans. Other pathogens from pet waste (including roundworms and their eggs) can survive in the soil for several years, and can transfer to other pets and to humans as well. Anyone participating in outdoor activities are at risk, with children being the most vulnerable. Dog poop also impacts the environment and is a big polluter especially when left on the side of trails and in parks. It takes over a century to decompose.

Maintenance of the park is another area of focus. In order to keep the dog park from becoming a mud pit, CCPR reached out to benchmark agencies and local dog parks who have similar acreage. Several reported having more members than they can support resulting in ongoing maintenance challenges. Based on their recommendations, CCPR is initially limiting dog memberships to 250, recognizing it is easier to sell more memberships in the future than take them away. With a little over 2 acres of land, this should minimize overuse and allow adequate running space for the dogs. Specific times and hours of closure of the park for maintenance upkeep were also developed. Once a week for a few hours in the morning, the park will be closed to members so CCPR staff can mow the grass, irrigate, clean the park, and keep the park in proper condition.

The third challenge was how to track vaccinations. Other agencies reported that they had no easy method to keep an up-to-date log of each dog’s vaccination records. As a result, this increased the likelihood of dogs utilizing the parks with expired records that either just weren’t updated in the system or that the shots were never actually given to the dogs. Thankfully, CCPR recently launched new recreation management software which provides them the ability to record vaccination records and receive a report one month prior to the vaccination expiration date. This also provides the department the ability to communicate with the member to head to the vet for necessary shots and then update their records.

The final challenge was documenting and communicating incidents while at an offsite location. A policy was developed to help minimize the chance of a dog incident from occurring, as well as the steps that need to be taken in order to address the issue. A crisis communication plan was also


implemented and members were made aware of the privileges they have to being a member and what could happen if rules and etiquette are not followed properly.

During the initial phase of the dog park CCPR focused on basic elements needed to operate and keep pet owners comfortable. The plans were kept simple so they would allow for growth based on users’ feedback and wear and tear of the park. A double-gated entrance ensures dogs cannot easily escape as visitors come and go. A designated area is provided for small dog, along with a larger area for all dogs. Existing trees

are preserved and incorporated into the dog park. A small shelter inside the fence provides shade and a central gathering place for the two-legged visitors. Drinking fountains for dogs and humans are also available. Other new amenities outside Central Bark Park include a new open meadow, picnic shelter, and restroom facilities all conveniently located by the dog park entrance. Nearby trails are easily accessible via short connectors.

Membership to the Central Bark Park is $10/month. A monthly rate was developed to fall in line with CCPR’s other facility rate structures. By providing a monthly option, it also allowed the public to budget accordingly.

CCPR plans to regularly survey their members to receive feedback regarding operations, as well as amenities offered. Potential amenities for future phases could include shade structure benches, a dog wash station, or agility courses. Ultimately, it is for their members to decide what they would like to see in years to come. CCPR is also seeking sponsorship for the Central Bark Park to help offset maintenance costs or fund new amenities.

For more information on the Central Bark Park, please visit carmelclayparks.com or contact Lindsay Labas, Marketing Director, at [email protected].

Man’s Best Friend–A Park for the Dogs (and their two-legged friends)Article continued...

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The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market: As Real as It GetsBy: Julie Ramey, Community Relations Manager, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department

There is something very real about the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market.The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is Indiana’s largest, and although it has evolved beyond all reckoning in the 41 years since its birth, it has always remained steadfastly rooted in the idea that the very best food is grown close to home by people who care for the land.

The Bloomington community put their votes where their hearts lie, and last May selected the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market as Bloomington’s Best Festival or Event in the Visit Bloomington annual Tourism Awards.

The award is significant not only because it was selected for the honor by the people who visit and love the Market, but also because it competed in the same category with some truly outstanding Bloomington festivals: The Fourth Street Art Fair, the Lotus Festival, and the Taste of Bloomington were all nominees in the Best Festival or Event category, but it was the Market that came out on top.

“It’s pretty cool to see the likes of green beans and corn take center stage,” said Farmers’ Market Coordinator Marcia Veldman in remarks for the Visit Bloomington awards ceremony. “It doesn’t get more real than that.”

More than 130 local farmers, growers, and producers sell the fruits of their labors at the Farmers’ Market, and it’s that variety that Visit Bloomington Director of Tourism

Julie Warren claims is one of the Market’s most outstanding features.

“Part of the attraction of the Farmers’ Market is its size,” Warren said. “You can almost always find what you’re looking for, or if you just want to go and have a cup of coffee and listen to the music, you can do that too. It’s wonderful!”

Veldman credits the vendors with much of the Farmers’ Market’s success. “Produce doesn’t grow on its own,” she said. “My deepest gratitude goes to the farmers for making a place in this modern society for the timeless concerns of growing food and caring for the land.”

Bloomington, the epicenter of the local food movement, is a community that relishes the flavors of the food that is locally grown and prepared. As a result, they spend their money locally, and support local farmers and growers.

“The entire community supports buying locally, and getting as close to the producers of their food as they can,” Warren said. “And the farmers are growing

fantastic things. Bloomington is a culinary town, and the Farmers’ Market is not only an event, but it’s a culinary attraction, too.”

In an interview with Cooking Light magazine, Chef Daniel Orr of FARM Bloomington said, “My professional and personal life was changed by our farmers’ market here. I ran away from the Hoosier State for about 25 years but rediscovered

my roots. Bloomington’s local food movement and the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market had a lot to do with that. There are so many great farmers in the area, and many of them supply my restaurant.”

Warren said she was not surprised by the community’s vehement support of the Farmers’ Market, whether in the Best Festival or Attraction voting, or every Saturday morning in the months of April through November.

“The Market has an energy about it,” she said. “It’s not just a place where you go and buy produce. It’s something you participate in.”

The Farmers’ Market was recognized nationally, too, when in May 2015 Cooking Light magazine named the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market one of America’s Top 50 Farmers’ Markets.

Veldman said, “I’ve said many times it takes a community to make the Market. The Market is a reflection of this community. It’s authentic, it’s welcoming, it’s green, it’s creative, it’s local, it’s healthy and genuine and generous. And it’s real.”

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IPRF officially kicked off the summer at Fox Prairie Golf Course with our annual Dollars for Scholars Golf Tournament on June 11th. A day where professionals can get out of the office, enjoy the outdoors, and perfect their golf swing. Not only do individuals get a fun day in the sun, they also get to contribute to a great cause, the Indiana Parks and Recreation Foundation’s Scholarship Fund. IPRF’s Scholarship Fund allows for children of IPRA members to receive scholarships while attending college and universities, as we are funding profesional development opportunities for current IPRA members. This event provides us with a great opportunity to give back to our members, network with others, and support the Indiana Parks and Recreation Foundation.

With the help from surrounding park and recreation professionals, sponsors and volunteers, 2015’s golf outing was record breaking! Having our 2020 initiative in mind, we were able to take one step closer to our goal. This year’s golf outing raised $10,471 opposed to last year’s revenue generating of $8,896. We were able to increase our profit in just one year by $1,575. This would not have been possible without the help and dedication of the IPRA staff, sponsors and volunteers. In order to reach our goal of a balance of $200,000 in the Endowment fund by the year 2020, we will keep striving to make this event bigger and better in years to come.

This year, we started off the golf outing with a quick lunch and announcements before the golfers went out on the course. Birds were chirping and the sun was shining, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. After announcements were finished, the golfers were sent out to their designated tee-off hole to begin their 18-hole round of golf. As the golfers were out on the course, there were many different opportunities to show other golfers their exceptional golf game. We had a series of competition holes and contests set up throughout the course and around the club house. We had a longest drive for both men and women along with, longest putt, closest to the pin, and a putting contest. When the golfers started making their way into the club house after finishing their round, they were treated to a cookout at the clubhouse. We ended the day by presenting awards to golfers for the overall lowest team score, competition

holes, and contests. Wrapping up the event, we made sure to give a special thanks to all of our golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and to the IPRA leadership for making this year’s golf outing the best yet!

IPRA would like to thank and give a shout out to all of the sponsors that made this event possible and a success! With your hard work and dedication we were able to achieve our goal!

2015Dollars for ScholarsArticle Written By: Jennifer Bagi- IPRA Intern


Thank you to all of our supporters, golfers, and volunteers for this great event!

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of the following

members and sponsors:

Beverage Sponsor:Recreation Insites

Snack Cart:Lehman & Lehman

Lunch Sponsor:Context

Dinner Co-Sponsor:Browning Day Mullians Dierdorf

Golf Tees Sponsor:Peterson Architecture

Hole Signage Sponsors:Indiana ASA Indy Eleven Don Seal Recreation Unlimited Steve Slauson Evie Kirkwood Tom SchalliolKen Cantzler John Seibert

Hole Signage Sponsors:Bob NickovichIU EDPInterDesignBob ArnoldJulie KnappJames PetersonSinclair RecreationBob GoodrichSpear CorporationMeyer- NajemVisit Hamilton County IndianaPhil ParninMader Design LLCNational Bank of IndianapolisNorwalk Concrete IndustriesUSI Consultants, IncVS EngineeringKenney MachineryT&T PromotionsSnider Recreation, Inc.TIPS

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Foundation BoardPresidentChris SticeHamilton County Parks & Recreation

Treasurer Philip ParninBrownsburg Parks & Recreation

MembersDan McGuireValparaiso Parks & Recreation

Susan O’ConnorSouth Bend Parks & Recreation

Don SealRetired

Mick RenneisenCity of Bloomington Parks & Recreation

Julie KnappIndiana University

Ex-OfficioMike HoffmeisterNoblesville Parks & Recreation

Ex-OfficioLisa Nye FordIPRA

On behalf of the Indiana Parks and Recreation Foundation I would like to thank all the teams, sponsors, staff, volunteer and the City of Noblesville Parks and Recreation for hosting this past years Dollars For Scholars Golf Outing. This event has raised more funds for scholarships than any previous golf outing. Again, thanks Brandon Bennett, Director of Noblesville Parks, Gary Deakyne, Mike Hoffmeister and the rest of the Noblesville staff for a great time and Janus’s, Shannon Smith for great food!

As we look to the future in raising $200,000 by 2020 we have updated our investment strategies to assist in getting to this goal. We still are looking to generate more opportunities and help increase the fund, which provides more funds for scholarships. Our goal is to give 5% annually to scholarships.

See you in the park!

Chris SticeHamilton County ParksIPRF President

From the IPRA Foundation President

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The 2015 Indiana University Executive Development Program hosted over 96 park and recreation professionals on the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington. Several IPRA members take part in the planning and implementation of the continuing education program that has been in existence for 48 years. Currently, six IPRA members serve on the Indiana University Executive Development Board of Trustees including Becky Barrick- Higgins, Brandon Bennett, Dan Bortner, Julie Knapp, Nate Thorne, and Joe Wynns. Indiana Park and Recreation Association Executive Director Lisa Nye Ford has joined the board for the 2016 program.

The program opened on Sunday April 19th with a welcome dinner and opening session presented by John Kennedy, a Motivational Speaker from Baltimore, MD. A social, followed the opening session at the Indiana University Club. The EDP educational sessions began on Monday April 20th where the first and second year EDP participants had the opportunity to be involved in two and a half days of interactive executive development classes that focused on issues facing professionals such as ethics, succession and job progression planning, programming analysis, employee selection and interviewing, benchmarking financial

performance, Financial GAPS, leadership, risk management, and customer service.

Out of class networking and social opportunities were also part of the2015 Executive Development Program. After the EDP students spent the morning and afternoon hours in continuing education sessions, they had the opportunity to experience tours of IU Athletic facilities, canoeing on Bloomington Park and Recreation Department’s Griffy Lake, Social Media Round Tables and a Monday evening social at Brown County State Park that included live music, a Barbecue Dinner, Birds of Prey interpretive program, a campfire and more. Throughout EDP, students also dined at a variety of restaurants on Kirkwood Avenue and enjoyed Bloomington’s active nightlife.

The 2015 Executive Development Program concluded on Wednesday April 22nd with an evaluation of the program and graduation luncheon where 1st and 2nd year EDP participants were awarded Continuing Education Certificates.

In addition, the 2nd year students were recognized for completing the two year program by receiving Indiana University Executive Development Program diplomas. The IU EDP Raffle raised over

$1300 for 2016 EDP Scholarships. Five-Six EDP scholarships will be awarded for the 2016 program (the deadline for application for the scholarships is December 15, 2015). Please mark your calendars, the 2016 Executive Development Program is scheduled for April 17-20th at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Indiana University Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies SPH 133 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405

CONTACT: Dr. Julie Knapp, Indiana University, 812-856-1068, [email protected]

Sharing Ideas, Experiences and Best Practices- The 2015 Indiana University Executive Development Program

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If there were ever a time to start planning for and receiving the benefits of a Park Foundation for your community, now is the time! Benefits are not only in terms of additional revenue that is non-tax dollar revenue but in promoting local community quality of life, which is just as important

Let’s look at how Park Foundations are important to communities.

Number 1Tax dollars are becoming more and more limited. Since everything rolls downhill, federal budgets are always being reduced for quality of life issues. How many times have we all been asked to contact our representative to oppose or be in favor of keeping park project funding at the same levels? Not long ago, I remember when we would be lobbying for increases! With the federal government limiting tax dollars, the state governments have also jumped on the bandwagon. By the time the state budgets have been passed, state shared revenues have been cut, grant dollars reduced, and more monies given to education. Once the local government budget receives their budget numbers to work with, our quality of life issues receive the mere morsels that are left or we are asked to do more with less. How many of you would benefit from extra monies that are earmarked for parks?

Number 2It seems as though with the limited budgets, eligible grants have become more restrictive in nature with minimum requirements becoming limiting requirements; either in areas served due to income levels or in reporting requirements. Historically, grant dollars have been used to try and fill the gaps in funding for park projects or to realize development of parks sooner. Every grant agency is also being asked to serve more with less. How many of us would like to have a consistent flow of revenue to help stabilize the ups and downs of budgets and to keep park development projects on time?

Number 3Elected officials are transient in nature. The long term city official that was once committed to the betterment of their local community thru careful planning and budgeting while committed to the long term vision has become the short-term, year to year official whose purpose is to scrutinize every dollar being spent while representing the minority population rather than the majority. With that, long term vision has been replaced with short term goals of 0% tax levy increases, 5-year park plans have become 10-year park plans, and department staffing has become limited. Park Foundations and their board members, who are not political by nature, are committed to enhancing the park experience and funding park related projects through donor dollars–not tax dollars–especially in economic times that limit much needed tax revenues. Monies raised thru park foundations are earmarked for park projects that typically go beyond day to day operations and maintenance...and do not become political decisions.

Number 4Park Foundations engage the community as a whole and help build a consensus with community members not only giving of their time, money, and support, but also their support on many issues related to parks and the benefits community residents receive. We are all aware of the benefits park users receive but it is equally important to have a group of citizens vocalizing their support for the park development process. Citizen and Volunteer led Park Foundations help strengthen and cultivate the support of parks in our communities.

Park Foundations are becoming more important in the process of enhancing the park experience for local Park Districts

or Parks & Recreation Departments. The National Association of Park Foundations helps start or strengthen local Park Foundations across the country. We look forward to helping you and your park community; become a member of the National Association of Park Foundations today.

National Association of Park Foundations (www.the-napf.og)

The National Association of Park Foundations (NAPF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that serves as a local resource and national voice for local park foundations to build foundations to enhance the local park experience. This NAPF group of professionals came together in September of 2014, because they saw a real need for bringing together all park foundations under one national umbrella that can also serve at the local level. The NAPF can help the park foundation that is just getting started, the park foundation that is up and going but needs to improve its operations, or the mature park foundation that needs fresh ideas for growth. Please visit our website at www.the-napf.org for membership cost and benefits/services. The NAPF looks forward to starting a personal relationship with each and every park foundation and establishing a networking resource that will benefit everyone throughout the country.

Let us help you…

Yours in Parks,

Craig Anderson, Assistant Executive DirectorNational Headquarters420 West Stone, Suite 2EVilla Park, Illinois [email protected]

Start Receiving the Benefits from Starting a Park Foundation

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You might be asking yourself right about now, “Why partner with a Sports Indiana, visitors bureau or sports commission?” Your initial reaction might be something along the lines of, “I’m very busy. What about wear & tear on my facilities? Who’s liable for accidents? What about security, use of lights, etc.? I simply don’t have time to consider another factor into the greater scheme of things.” Sound familiar?

What if we look at this from a different perspective? Your parks and recreation department is focused on beautification and maintenance of parks and trails as well as creation of recreation and programming for your citizens. In general, parks and rec is all about quality of life for its community, right? That is your mission.

In a similar sense that is what Sports Indiana, CVB’s and sports commissions do but they come at it from a visitor perspective.

How can we bring more of the right sort of sporting events into this community so that participants, officials and fans of the events bring their wallets and spend their money in our citizens’ businesses; thus improving their quality of life? So how can we work together? There are countless examples of Sports Indiana Community Members and P&R professionals partnering across the state to achieve mutual goals. An example might be one community parks and recreations department that has partnered with a Sports Indiana member and the local disc golf club in creating courses on their property. The club maintains the

courses. In return, they are allowed to hold events on the courses. The CVB assists in obtaining the events; marketing the events, welcoming participants, volunteer coordination, etc. All of these things work together to create an overall positive experience for competitor and fan alike. This increases the club visibility as well as the park visibility. It even draws more locals to the parks that weren’t coming out to the parks for a picnic on a Sunday afternoon but they will come out to enjoy an 18-hole show down. These local citizens now have a much deeper and more personal investment in their local parks and recreations department than ever before. They take pride in their relationship with them.

Another example would be a representative from a CVB/sports commission who is out “pounding the pavement” networking with event owners and rights holders who are looking for locations to hold their events. The CVB/sports commission representative knows your facilities and your needs. Do you have a down time in the fall? Is there a time you need to fill your facility? That representative can be out there scouring the planet for the right event to bring in to fill the gap. They have access to RFPs from organizations big and small, across the globe. Does it mean more work for you? Does it mean additional wear and tear on your facilities? Yes but it also means an additional income source during a time we already determined you needed to fill. Guests at events can not only mean rental income but also gate, concession and souvenir profits as well, depending on the event business model.

Perhaps you have actually had your eye on a specific event you want to host or create. Sports Indiana and Sports Indiana Member Community professional has a great deal of experience and can bring tremendous contacts to the table. Here are just a few of the things they often offer:

• Bid consultation• Bid fee support through grants• Promotion of events at a local, state,

regional, and national level• Volunteer Coordination Assistance• Registration assistance• Connections with a different set of

community groups

In addition to the support Sports Indiana members can provide you, Sports Indiana oversees a grant program created by the state that was designed to help communities and parks receive the financial support they need to bring high profile events to the state of Indiana and enhance the visitor experience while they are here. To date, more than $250,000 of grant funds have been distributed to 14 communities within Indiana equating to more than $50 Million dollars of Direct Spending.

Now that you’re excited about the possibilities, there are still more opportunities. Sports Indiana offers affiliate memberships that provide a platform for networking with your peers, events rights holders and other member communities as well as tremendous educational opportunities to stay up to date with best practices and industry standards.

Why partner with Sports Indiana, visitors bureaus or sports commissions? It’s a winning combination that’s good for your community.

Sports Indiana Member Communities Partnering with P&R is a Winning CombinationBy: Craig Anderson, National Association of Park Foundations


The Natural Trails and Greenway Committee is offering some educational packed and exciting workshops in the upcoming months. In September join us in Hamilton County at Koteewi Park for the Prairie Grass and Wildflower Workshop! The need for planting native plants, flowers, and trees has spread through our park systems. Now is a great time to learn more about utilizing this vital and educational product that can be within your parks! Here we

will learn the start-up, benefits, and the maintenance of prairie grass and wildflowers from professionals throughout the state. We will be able to see first-hand prairie grass fields and all of their 750 acres of beauty. The park is packed with archaeological activity along with bicycling, nature trails, equestrian trails, and canoe launch.

The Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting the Bike, Pedestrian and Mountain Bike workshop in October at their the future location for the multi-million Griffin Bike Park, which is located next to Fowler Park. This has also sparked a Friends Group that will be responsible for the operations of the park. The VCPRD, the Friends Group

of the Griffin Bike Park have teamed up with the Griffin family to bring a mountain bike park to the Vigo County area. The original idea was to create a memorial for all fallen veterans and for the late Sargent Dale Griffin, who gave his life on October 27, 2009 in Afghanistan. The Griffin’s would mountain bike all over the country as a family and truly reflect how community and recreation go hand in hand. The friends group and the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department have 7 miles already constructed, and will be constructing another 9 miles. The workshop will have the construction manager, the VCPRD Staff, and Friends Group on hand to show us the great inner workings of this park.

Never Too Late to Learn Something NewHamilton and Vigo CountyBy: Meghan Huff, Visit South Bend Mishawaka

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“Wellbeing” has been identified as an important construct that is composed of a broad spectrum of factors, including overall community health. The Canadian Index of Wellbeing, developed at the University of Waterloo, includes specific measures in “eight interconnected domains of wellbeing” (CIW Backgrounder, 2011). Included are leisure and culture, time use, and physical, mental, and social health. The Gallup Well-Being Index is a U.S.-based effort to measure wellbeing and includes both community and physical health elements in its measures. In the Gallup Well-Being state rankings, Indiana ranks 48 out 50 (Gallup-Healthways, 2014). A look at the make-up of these wellbeing measures shows that parks and recreation agencies can effect change in specific health-related factors, and by doing so they can positively impact the wellbeing of their communities and the state of Indiana. It is a matter of drawing the connections, defining desired outcomes, targeting effort, and then measuring those outcomes.

Defining desired outcomes is at the heart of program development. Just as organizations look at long-term goals as part of master planning, they should look at long-term outcomes for recreational programming (see Figure 1). Identifying and measuring activities and outputs is relatively easy. A feedback form lets you know that trail users found the hike pleasant, peaceful, and safe. These measures are outputs (reactions to the activities) and they describe the ‘how’ of the program. Outputs, including knowledge, skills, and attitudes, are immediate. They can lead to longer-term outcomes, but they are not outcomes themselves. To connect an agency and

Parks and recreation professionals generally are aware of the important role that public programs and lands play in local communities throughout Indiana. It is easy to see the immediate benefits of agency programming in terms of its [positive] effects on the people who participate. Attendance numbers, revenue generation, and short end-of-event surveys tell administrators and staff which programs work well. However, more parks and recreation agencies are recognizing the need to be purposeful in their practice. Parks and recreation master planning and strategic planning with park boards are evidence of the desire to identify needs in the communities they serve and be purposeful about the allocation of limited resources.

An agency’s mission, set in the context of its role in the community, should be the driving force behind all of the agency’s programming and services. Connecting day-to-day activities across different program areas and facilities to the agency goals and objectives is fundamental to the strategic functioning of any organization.

Further, placing programs and operations in the larger context of community priorities opens the door to organizational effectiveness. Using data from the community to drive decision-making is a sound professional practice. This approach generates community support, partnerships, and funding opportunities, and it allows agencies to begin to link programs and facilities to community-based outcomes. Strengthening and clarifying these connections is not as difficult as it may seem; it simply requires looking outside the parks and recreation field to the field of public health.

A series by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands

Co-Authors:Stephen A. WolterAustin HochstetlerSally Pelto-WheelerKate L. Wiltz

This article in IPRA’s “The Profile” is the third of a year-long, four-part review of the linkage between parks and recreation and health in Indiana. Written by several staff at the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, in Indiana University’s School of Public Health-Bloomington, the series provides context, trends, and some projected ways in which the continuing health crisis in Indiana can be addressed by parks and recreation agencies. Understanding 1) our historic linkage to public health, 2) our important role in bringing community-based change to local health conditions and disparities, and 3) the professional approaches our park and recreation agencies must bring to other local organizations, will be critical to success in the public health arena.

The first article, printed in the Fall/Winter 2014 edition, provided a brief historic and contextual setting for the intersection of public health and parks and recreation in Indiana. The second article focuses on the alignment of the professions of public health and parks and recreation management: the similarities are striking, the historical linkages telling, and the differences of significant concern. This third article emphasizes public health measurements related to health disparities, health challenges, and ways in which Indiana communities can find and use these measures.

The fourth article will focus on ways in which park and recreation agencies and programs are implementing public policy and programs that address community health holistically. Our staff at the Eppley Institute looks forward to contributing to the success of our park and recreation colleagues in Indiana.

Making Health Data WorkBy: L. Kate Wiltz and Steve Wolter

continued on page 31

Figure 1. A model of programming components Outcomes Participants/ Resources/ Customers/ Inputs Activities Outputs Users Short-term Intermediate Long-term HOW it’s done WHY it’s done

Approaches to Public Health & Parks and Recreation in Indiana


Making Health Data WorkArticle continued from page 24

Figure 2. A model for connecting the components of parks and recreation programming with health impacts. Outcomes Participants/ Resources/ Customers/ Inputs Activities Outputs Users Short-term Intermediate Long-term Change In Change In Change In Attitude Behavior Condition PROGRAMSee example below: “Weekly Walkers”

• Trail• Staff time• Stopwatch, water bottles• Adver- tising

Mon.,Wed., Fri.walking meetup group

• Employ- ment• Meeting new people• Elevated cardio rate for 45 mins.

20-35 yr. olds55-75 yr. oldsSenior CentersParent’s Group

• Positive feelings about exercising• New friendships

• Regularly using walking as a social activity• Walking instead of driving to nearby destinations• Family and friends of participants walking

• Expanded walking path system• Lower incidence of overweight• Increased social connected- ness

Making Health Data WorkArticle continued...

continued on page 32

its activities to outcomes, the lens must focus on the ‘why’ of the programming. Outcomes reflect sustained change in participants as well as the community. Strategic programming identifies these desired outcomes, and clarifies the connection between the hows and the whys.

When linking parks and recreation to public health outcomes, the parks and recreation agency must understand the community’s health disparities and the potential influence parks and recreation facilities and activities can have on the related health factors. Luckily, as discussed in the previous article in this series, public health data are available online, and they are compiled for each county. In addition, the same county health data have been used to link recreational programs and policies to health outcomes. How does one turn these online resources into powerful parks and recreation initiatives with measurable outcomes?

There are a number of ways to begin connecting your organization’s work to important health impacts. Begin by exploring the website, www.countyhealthrankings.org. Indiana’s counties are ranked on this site according to their scores on a set of health outcome measures as well as a set of health factors

(see sidebar for definitions of these related terms). It is these measures that park and recreation programming can target.

If an agency already has well-defined and documented programming with identified short- or long-term goals, look for the expected impacts that match what the agency is already doing. If the agency is in a program development or expansion phase, begin thinking about which

outcomes and factors match the agency’s strengths and organizational goals. Either way, the “What Works for Health” section of the county health rankings website will help begin the journey. This tool provides “information to help select and implement evidence-informed policies, programs, and system changes that will improve the variety of factors we know affect health” (http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/roadmaps/what-works-for-health).

For example, a park with a system of accessible, safe, paved walking trails would like to begin connecting and understanding this resource’s impact on health. A quick search of “walking trails” in the “What Works for Health” tool shows several policies and programs that have been shown to impact health determinants. On the list are:• Bicycle/pedestrian master plans• Bicycle paths, lanes & tracks• Access to places for physical activity• Increase green space/parks

• Prescriptions for physical activityEach of the results has information on which health factors are impacted by the particular program cited, research supporting the impact, and examples of programs implemented from across the United States. The information is more than enough to begin looking at the existing trails in a new and health-oriented light.

Another way to explore which programs and policies (also called “interventions” in the public health field) are impacting health in a community is to look at the data. The rankings provide an idea of how one county is doing compared to others; however, rankings are not a good way to measure change. To look at the specific outcomes and factors that an agency’s interventions could target and measure, the agency will want to use the county statistical data, also provided on this website.

Selecting Monroe County, where the Eppley Institute is located, reveals specific statistics in the “areas to explore” portion of the website, which identify specific factors that offer good potential for improvement or impact. One of the “areas to explore” highlighted among Monroe County’s statistics is the number of membership associations in the county (the factor is referred to as “social associations”). This factor refers to the number of organizations offering memberships (fitness clubs, golf courses, etc.) per capita and is thought to gauge a community’s opportunities for social interaction, which positively affects mental health.

A search for “social associations” using the “What Works for Health” tool quickly highlights multiple parks and recreation program initiatives with scientifically-supported beneficial outcomes for health. The first, “outdoor/experiential education and wilderness therapy,” specifically affects self-esteem, self-efficacy, and improved youth behavior, each of which is connected to this type of programming by research. It is this type of data-supported connection that allows an organization to demonstrate the role(s) its programs play in the health

36 theProfile

Resources Cited:

Canadian Index of Wellbeing (2011, April 7). Backgrounder - Canadian Index of Wellbeing. Retrieved from https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-index-wellbeing/resources/fact-sheets/backgrounder-canadian-index-wellbeing

Gallup-Healthways (2014). State of American Well-Being: 2014 State Well-Being Rankings. Retrieved from http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/162029/file-2513997715-pdf/Well-Being_Index/2014_Data/Gallup-Healthways_State_of_American_Well-Being_2014_State_Rankings.pdf?t=1432933679548

Nagy, J., & Fawcett, S. B. “Designing Community Interventions.” In The Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/where-to-start/design-community-interventions/main

Glossary of terms and how they are used in the parks, recreation, and health context:

Health disparities – differences in health factors between groups of people.

Health factors – the things that influence the health of a population; for example: access to care, tobacco use, air and water quality.

Health outcomes –the conditions that represent how healthy a population is; for example: length of life, birthweight.

Intervention – any of a wide range of activities that might include a program, a change in policy, or a certain practice that becomes popular, particularly in the field of public health.

Program(ming) – the activities, facilities, and opportunities intentionally provided by an organization.

Meet A Fresh Face

Name: Alyce De Boer

Current Employer: Town of Highland Parks & Recreation

College Attended: Purdue University

Degree Earned: Business Management- Entrepreneurship & Marketing

How long have you been in the Parks & Recreation Field? I worked part time for the Town of Dyer Parks & Recreation for 5 years and I have been employed full time with the Town of Highland Parks & Recreation for 2 months.

What made you decide on the Parks & Recreation Field? I enjoy the variety of skills it requires to successfully coordinate the programs and events I oversee. I also relish in the opportunity to meet new people throughout the community.

How do you hope to make an impact? I want to help our department become more connected with the community and make this town a place that inspires more people to get involved with the programs and events offered here.

Making Health Data WorkArticle continued from page 31

Approaches to Public Health & Parks and Recreation in Indiana

of its community. “Activity programs for older adults” and “extracurricular activities: social engagement” are also listed with science-backed evidence of effectiveness, expected beneficial outcomes for health, and specific examples of implemented programs. Any organization with a team sports league could begin making more than just the usual physical exercise arguments for the impact it has on community health.

Identifying the health connections of parks and recreation programs’ current and planned programming is the first step in making more deliberate connections between an organization’s resources and activities and the impact of that organization on community health. Once an evidence-based case is made for the contribution of parks and recreation agencies to public health, more strategic partnerships, funding applications, and true community-based initiatives will follow.


Active Transportation Advocacy: The Battle for Bike-Ped Continues

By fits and starts, Congress is beginning to address the need to approve a new, long-term surface transportation law beyond the current July 31 expiration of MAP-21.While the ongoing search for a revenue source to pay for long-term transportation funding continues, the authorizing committees are working on a long-term package that would renew MAP-21 and include important funding for active transportation such as pedestrian, bike and recreational trail projects. On June 24 the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee approved S. 1647, known as the DRIVE Act, a six-year bill which retains key active transportation initiatives under what is known as the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).LWCF State Assistance Program Reauthorization

With less than 100 days until the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is scheduled to expire on September 30,

the pressure is increasing upon Congress to act to reauthorize the 50-year-old law. Congress held public hearings on LWCF and its future and in both cases key House

and Senate members advocated for a more robust share of the overall LWCF dollars going to the State Assistance Program. NRPA continues to work with key House and Senate offices to promote a permanently reauthorized and fully funded LWCF which includes a minimum of 40 percent of the total LWCF allocation for the State Assistance Program.

The Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made clear that if she gets her way, the next installment of the LWCF will be quite different than the existing law. This would include seeing the State Assistance Program become a much greater priority under the law. Additionally, the Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), was a guest columnist in the May issue of Parks & Recreation magazine sharing his “Case for LWCF Reform,” which includes more funding for the State Assistance Program. The column even generated a response from Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), which was printed in the June magazine.As Chairs of the Congressional authorizing committees, Sen. Murkowski and Rep. Bishop will play a major role in the

reauthorization of the LWCF.

FY 2016 Budget While the debate over LWCF reauthorization enters its final stretch, Congress must still agree upon how much funding should go to the LWCF next year. Ironically, the deadline for approving the spending budget (appropriation) for the Department of Interior for FY 2016 is also the end of September. There is some encouraging news coming out of Congress with regard to future funding for the State Assistance

Program. Specifically, the House of Representatives is proposing $48 million for State Assistance (basically level

with current FY 2015 spending) and the Senate has proposed $55 million for State Assistance. Both should be considered as positive developments when viewed through the challenging budgetary climate on Capitol Hill.

Summer Meals Act Gaining Momentum! With the summer meal season in full swing and the expiration of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization looming at the end of September, NRPA is working feverishly to make sure children continue to receive healthy and nutritious meals in school and during the summer months. NRPA supports the Summer Meals Act of 2015 (S. 613 and H.R. 1728) in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. The Summer Meals Act of 2015 is the primary effort in Congress to expand access to summer meals, improve delivery of summer meals in rural areas, increase the number of meals children can receive during the summer and allow meal providers, like park and recreation agencies, to serve both after-school and summer meals by completing one application.

The bill is quickly gaining momentum in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, where 22 bipartisan representatives and five senators have signed on respectively. We’ll need more support for the Summer Meals Act of 2015 to get Congress’ attention and keep kids fed during the summer months.

National Park & Recreation Association News

38 theProfile

September 2 NRTG meeting 15 - 17 NRPA Congress 23 - 24 IPRA Fall Retreat

October 1 Aquatics Meeting 7 NRTG meeting 15 Executive Committee meeting 21 Northern District meeting 22 Central/Southern District Roundtable

November 18 Northern District Roundtable 19 Executive Committee & BOD meeting

December 17 Executive Committee Meeting

January 2016 13 - 15 IPRA 100th Anniversary Annual Conference

2015-16IPRA Event Calendar

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Indiana Park & Recreation AssociationPO Box 3906Carmel, IN 46082

the profile - summer 2015

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