By HOLLY GASKILL
After years of work and planning from the city of Bluffton and its partners, the new Lancaster Park was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting on Friday.
The park, located across from Lancaster Elementary School, features many amenities, including a pavilion and restrooms, pickleball courts, a football and soccer field, a lighted basketball court, a playground, a giant human foosball court, Gaga ball court, sand volleyball courts, disc golf/foot golf course and more.
A half-mile walking path around the park extends 1.06 miles to the Interurban Trail, connecting the Rivergreenway and Ouabache State Park to the new park.
The park itself was made possible through an over $600,000 grant from the Land Water Conservation Fund, land donation from Norwell Community Schools, and numerous community partners. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources also awarded a $408,035 Next Level Trails grant for the trail extension, which will eventually be a part of the greater Poka-Bache Trail connecting Ouabache to Pokagon State Park.
“Overall, $2.156 million in value was added to our community as local donors joined in the excitement of the investment in high-quality recreational trails and facilities that will benefit Bluffton for generations to come,” Parks Department Superindentent Brandy Fiechter said during the ribbon cutting Friday.
And while construction broke ground just 1.5 years ago, the park was nearly 20 years in the making. Long-time Norwell school board member Gene Donaghy said the district began leasing the land to the city for $1 per year in 2006 with plans to build the park.
Mayor John Whicker thanked the community members and gave special appreciation to Fiechter, saying, “We are so lucky to have Brandy.”
Fiechter also credited former Bluffton Common Council member Roger Thornton, who she said was an instrumental part of the park coming to fruition.
“His desire to see the space transformed into a premier outdoor recreational destination was second to none,” Fiechter said. “He played a vital role in both projects by writing letters of support, finding donations, and assisting with easements. He did a lot of behind-the-scenes tasks that helped me immensely. And for that, I’m truly thankful.”
The park was designed by ERI and construction was managed by the James S. Jackson Company. Weger Excavating, Brooks Construction and Wayne Asphalt were local contractors for the project.
holly@news-banner.com
