I love this time of year when the cooler temperatures arrive, and the trees get their first hint of red, orange, or yellow. I find myself wanting to spend more and more time outside, kayaking on the weekends or sitting around a fire in the evenings. Who knows, I may even talk myself into finally cleaning up my neglected flowerbeds now that it isn’t so hot out.
We are starting to winterize the restrooms at all the parks because the evenings are getting colder now. Washington Park will still be available to rent inside and outside until everything opens next year.
If you are still on the fence about getting a gym membership, you will be happy to know that the Bluffton City Gym keys were prorated on Oct. 1. From now until the end of the year, prices are only $20 for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Stop by the Clerk Treasurer’s office in City Hall to pick up a key, or call the park office at 824-6069 to schedule a tour. The gym includes a basketball court, weight room, racquetball court, and locker rooms with showers and saunas.
If you happen to take a walk on the West side of town, be sure to stop by Lion’s Park and see the improvements. We are delighted with the new ADA parking and sidewalk to the pavilion and playground, not to mention how wonderful the newly finished basketball court looks. Special thanks to KBL transport for a job well done.
We also want to send a huge thank you to Walmart for a recent $1,000 grant that we were awarded to continue making improvements to Lion’s Park. It has been our long-term goal to have a better fall surface in the playground area instead of the current pea gravel, and these funds will go a long way in making that a reality. We appreciate them thinking of us every year and partnering with us to improve our community parks.
While we are giving thanks, we also want to mention that Buckets for Santa will be donating two new benches at the pickleball courts at Washington Park, Elks Lodge 796 will donate a new bench at the splash pad at Pickett’s Run Park, and to the Optimist Club who will be donating a buddy bench for the Lancaster Park playground. These new benches are maintenance-free, last much longer, and never need painting.
On Monday, we met with an invasive species specialist to look at the plants growing along the Rivergreenway. He identified a lot of Honeysuckle and various other plants that will need treatment. If you are part of an organization, church group, scouting troop, Master Naturalist, National Honor Society student looking for community service hours, or someone who loves to volunteer, please reach out to us at parks@blufftonindiana.gov. When we have enough help, we will schedule a weed wrangle to help clear unwanted brush and allow native trees and plants to grow again.
Registration is filling up the new Charcuterie Bites and Flights event. Join us for a fun-filled date night with your sweetheart or best friends and create a gorgeous and delicious charcuterie board while sipping on a wine or beer-tasting flight. The cost is $60 per couple, and registration is online at https://raceroster.com/events/2022/64464/charcuterie-bites-and-flights.
Next Tuesday, Oct. 11, an immunization clinic will be held at the Farm Wagon from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Life Community Church. Walk-ins are welcome the day of the event, or you can sign up online at patients.vaxcare.com/registration and enter enrollment code IN65942, then select Bluffton Farm Wagon 10/11. If you have any questions about this event, call 317-628-7116.
Have a great week.
