Parks and Recreation Board - Regular Meeting

All right. Good morning everyone. Before we begin, please note that this meeting is being broadcast live on YouTube and recorded for transcription, public access, and archival purposes. By participating in this meeting, you are giving your consent to be recorded and included in the public broadcast. If you do not wish to be recorded, you're welcome to observe the meeting without participating. You may also submit any comments or questions in writing. Contact information can be loaded located at the bottom of your agenda. Um, I would like to call this meeting of the Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board to order and I will proceed with attendance by calling the role. Uh, Jenny Shiveley is absent. Present. Heather Van Djk.

Yes. Terry Gotchuk. Yes. Kelly McLaren. Yes. And staff Kayla Brooks is absent. Um and myself, Mary Morales 10. Yes, 10 a.m. Okay. Next, we'll have the approval of the minutes from the August 21st, 2022 board meeting. Are there any corrections, discussions, or additions? Like to make a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I.

August 21st, 2025 minutes are approved as presented. New business. Exciting new business. We have the fiveyear master plan resolution. Final plan has been distributed to all members. It's been reviewed and updated with the necessary amendments. And at this time, we're asking the board to approve the resolution and forward a favorable recommendation to the board of commissioners for adoption of the final Hancock County Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2026 through 2030 at their October 7th meeting. I will read the resolution and resolution number will be 2025-9-1 uh park board plan acceptance resolution adoption of the 2026 through 2030 5-year master plan. Whereas the Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board recognizes the importance of identifying and addressing the parks and recreation needs of the residents of Hancock County, Indiana. And whereas the board acknowledges that the sound planning is essential to effectively meet those needs, promote accessibility, and support future growth throughout the county. And whereas the development of the Hancock County Parks and Recreation Five-year Master Plan 2026 2030 was guided by public input, professional consultation, and commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Now therefore, be it resolved by unanimous declaration of the Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board that the Hancock County Parks and Recreation 5-year master plan 2026 2030 is hereby

I would like to change that word. If all is in favor, we can change that word to approved contingent upon review by the Indian Indiana Indiana Department of Natural Resources as the official guiding document for the next 5 years. This plan shall serve as the foundation for the continued growth, development, and enhancement of parks and recreation opportunities throughout Hancock County, Indiana. Furthermore, the board hereby issues a favorable recommendation to the Hancock County Board of Commissioners to adopt the master plan as the official five-year plan for parks and recreation. Adopted. I'm going to say approved only, not adopted and approved. So, we will strike the word adopted from the document.

Um, approved 918 of 2025. Have any questions? Can I make a motion to approve Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board resolution 259- We'll make a motion that we approve uh the recommendation as presented. Thank you.

All in favor? The resolution 20259-1 acceptance and approval. Um motion passes. The next item is our Indiana Trails Program letter of support. So, um, the Indiana Trail Program letter of support, which has been provided to all members for review, will now be read into the record. Dear Review Committee, this is the letter of support for the Indiana Trails Program application. We are pleased to express our strong support for Hancock County Highway Department application to the Indiana Trails Program. This grant request makes possible the donation and development of a 42.022 acre property into a new county park featuring a 75m 10 foot wide multi-use trail that will connect directly to the Pensy Trail. The trail will provide residents with access to a muchneeded natural park, conserving the land, and offering a place to relax and enjoy nature while supporting the long-term vision of a future connection to New Palestine. This project reflects a strong public private partnership. Central Indiana Communications, Inc., Ninstar Connect, is donating the land and providing professional services. The Hancock County Highway Department will construct the trail and trail heads, and county

leadership is committing financial and administrative support. Together with these efforts, ensure a lasting investment in recreation, conservation, and community health. Established in July of 2024, the newly created parks and recreation board is already taking meaningful steps to expand recreational opportunities. While not yet able to eligible to apply directly for grants, the board is partnering with the Hancock County Highway, which is leading this application on its behalf. At its September 18th, 2020 25 meeting, the board unanimously approved this letter of support and the newly completed 5-year master plan, which specifically calls for this type of park and trail connection. The board also recommended that the final master plan be adopted by the Hancock County Board of Commissioners at their October 10, 2025 meeting. So with all that, um, may I have a motion to approve this letter of support as presented?

I have a question. Yes. Sorry. So in that last paragraph where it says established in July 2024, the newly created parks and recreation board, should that not say Hancock County Parks and Recreation? I will insert Hancock County. Thank you very much. Any other amendments? Motion to approve the recommendation letter um including the edits me. Second and Kelly.

All in favor?

I. The motion passes. Thank you so much. Old business, exciting business. Um, let me get back to the So, the I wanted to just go through the Ninstar land donation just a little bit. There's no motions on this, but um the board previously approved moving forward with this land acquisition, and I'm speaking of NinStar board and their board of directors. Um forward with the land acquisition, two appra appraisals have been ordered and received and have been provided to Ninstar. The Ninstar provided also a letter of support for the ITP grant which will accompany the grant application. So, the grant is being finalized and will be submitted by the end of the week. Uh, preferably today once I get all of uh the documents scanned and uploaded, uh, the Hancock County Highway Department will be applying on our behalf. Um, but we're um going to move on to the Shirley Trail Extension if you guys don't have any questions about the ITP anymore. Thank you. So, the Shirley Shirley Trail Extension and Beautifification Project. We're thrilled to announce that Shirley Trail Extension and Beautifification Project has been awarded the Ignite Grant with the support of the highway. This project will receive $50,000 from the Community Foundation of Hancock County. We will gather for a photo opportunity on October 7th at 1:00. The

trail itself will be an 1800 foot long and 10- foot wide trail. And as part of this project, we'll be installing a slatted fence, a bench, a legacy memorial sign honoring a gentleman that sold us the corridor. His name was Mr. Sarowski. Um there'll have landscaping and um around this resting area. In addition to the grant, it called for art installations along the portion of the trail. So, I've been working um with the Octagon House, and the trail uh the town of Shirley will have 4 foot diameter silver dollar markers that will provide facts about the octagon house. And along our portion of the trail will be photooluminescent aggregate. So, it will um light up the path like fireflies uh creating a real magical experience to visitors. So, that's exciting. So, this competitive grant supports the town of Shirley, the Octagon House, and it will help bring tourism from Henry County, Shirley City Park, which is on the other side of the county line, into Hancock County. And this project is also a key part of the Shirley Community Visionaries mission to preserve heritage while building their community. So, it's been a wonderful collaboration effort reflecting our parks, our park board's mission to create spaces that connect people, celebrate our shared her shared heritage, and strengthen the community for generations to come. So, we're truly humbled to receive this grant award. Um we will have a year to complete the trail and plan to begin construction um next spring next spring if not sooner. Does anyone have any qu questions about that trail?

Oh, okay. Well, um public discussion. Paul, do you have anything for us? Oh, should I come up to Yeah, come up to the microphone and uh spell your la first and last or spell your last name.

Sure. I'm Paul Galley, G- A L L E Y, uh representing the Pensy Trails of Hancock County, and just wanted to let the board know that we've got our quarterly meeting on October 5th, uh from 2 to 4 at the Thrive Center. Uh and then the month after in November, we've got a fundraiser for the vault toilet that will be, I believe that's November 8th, uh at the wooden bear. Uh so that watch for information forthcoming if you haven't received things already um and just uh hopefully we can continue to partner together and uh and make things uh a little bit more connected all around. But thank you. I have a question. Sure.

Do you have a link to any or a PDF uh that you might want to share with the park board that we can post on our website to help? I will send that to you immediately after the meeting.

That's great. Thank you, Paul. All right. Um action items that anyone wants to bring up? I did want to ask about uh quality of place. Um we had a a discussion about the quality of place plan through the county and uh through the community foundation yesterday. And um I'm wondering Terry, you were there um if we should create a letter of support. I would like to use that document for the ITP grant. So, um I would like to if we should make a motion to uh create a letter of support that allows the quality of place to be our guiding document to help us the park board forward along with our master plan. I'll make a motion that uh the park board create a letter of recommendation um to be submitted with the ITP grant stating our support for the quality of place plan um in conjunction with our five-year master plan.

Thank you. Second that. All right. All in favor? Motion approved. Um, so our next meeting is scheduled for October 16th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. If there's nothing further, I'll entertain a MO. I will make a at 10:15. Thank you, Kelly. And ready to Okay, we are ajourned. Does anybody want to stay longer? I'm going to go get my flu shot over in the health department.