Monroe County Parks and Recreation

2011

Annual Report

Prepared By:

Monroe County Parks and Recreation Staff

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MONROE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

-Park Board Members & MCPR Staff .............................................................. "" ... 2

PARK BOARD ................................................................................................................ 3

MCPR FOUNDATION .................................................................................................... 3

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ........................................................................................... 4

OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENT .................................................................................... 5

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION ......................................................................................... 6

-Grants, Endowments & Gifts ............................................................................... 6

RECREATION DIVISION ............................................................................................. 7-8

-Matt Wilhoit Athletics ....................................................................................... 8-9

-Beth Cossairt: Youth & Family Activities ........................................................ 9-12

-Cathy Meyer: Environmental Education ..................................................... 12-14

PARK DIVISION ............................................................................................................ 14

-Park Land managed & maintained .................................................................... 14

-Capital Improvements ....................................................................................... 15

-Parks ............................................................................................................ 15-17

-Greenway Trails ................................................................................................ 18

-Park Location Map ............................................................................................ 19

COUNTY GENERAL BUDGET ..................................................................................... 20

BENEFITS OF PARKS AND RECREATION ................................................................. 21

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2011

MONROE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION (MCPR)

214 West 7th Street, Suite 110 Bloomington, IN 47404

Evelyn Harrell Ralph Gaebler Amy Thompson Joe Goss David L. Ferguson

mcparksandrec.org voice: 812-349-2800 fax: 812-349-2899

MCPR Park Board President Vice-President Secretary Member Member

Sophia Travis/Or. Carolyn VandeWiele Member Rob Hochstetler Member

MCPR Staff Administrative Division

Chuck Stephenson Administrator Kelli Witmer Assistant Administrator Kay Medley Office Manager Kevin Dogan Monroe County Attorney

Recreation Division Cathy Meyer Naturalist Beth Cossairt Recreation Director: youth, adult & family Matt Wilhoit Recreation Director: athletics

Park Division Jeff Sanders Park Superintendent

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Tony Webb Assistant Park Superintendent/Sports Turf Manager Dave Bell Maintenance Technician Deandre Moxley Maintenance Technician Andy French Maintenance Technician

Park Caretakers Jay Taylor Flatwoods Park Mark Lawson Karst Farm Park

Returning Hourly Linda Lawyer Office Assistant -j Rachel Hancock Office Assistant & Prowam Assistant Sandy Belth Naturalist Assistant

Andrei Papa Lead Day Camp Counselor Escal Sexton Exercise Leader Don Anderson Park Maintenance Mike Grubb Park Maintenance

·--Billy Norris Park Maintenance Eric Robertson Park Maintenance Shirley Webb Park Maintenance Branden Medley Park Maintenance

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MONROE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD

The Park Board was created on January 3, 1983 by the Monroe County Council. It is governed by provisions adopted in Chapter 600 of the Monroe County Code. MCPR was explicitly established pursuant to enabling legislation found at Indiana Code 36-10-3. The Council expressly grants to the MCPR all of the duties and powers set forth in IC 36-10-3-1 et.seq. The Park Board is a seven member board which sets policy, approves claim expenditures and proposes departmental budgets. The Park Board members are appointed by Commissioners (1 appointment), Council (2 appointments), Board of Judges (2 appointments), Mayor of Bloomington (1 appointment), and the Extension Agent as an ex-officio voting member.

MONROE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION, INC. (MCPRF)

The MCPRF was incorporated on February 25, 2002. The purpose of the MCPRF is to promote, aid, and encourage the activities and endeavors of every kind and description, or connected with, the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Department. The Foundation supports park improvements, recreational programs, and youth scholarships for Monroe County residents.

All donations to the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The Foundation is a 501 c (3) charitable not-for-profit organization.

MCPRF Property Holdings • Ferguson Nature Park

a. 48.65 acres b. Donated by Stephen L. Ferguson c. 29 acres are in row crop. The farm income supports youth scholarships,

park improvements and recreation programs in Monroe County.

MCPR Foundation Board Members Leas a Farkas - President Dave Landis- Treasurer Evelyn Harrell- Secretary Ralph Gaebler Amy Thompson Chuck Stephenson

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Assistant Administrator Kelli \Vitmer (P . .l..T I\')

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Office Assistant Linda La1'\;:er & Rachel

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I I I Park Superintendent ?\ atu ralist Recreation Director Jeff Sanders (P.-\.T I\') Cathy \feyer (PAT UD Beth Cossairt (PAT UI)

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Assistant Park Superintendent! Assistant::-; atu ra list Program Instructors Sports TurL\Ianager Sandy Belth (Hourly) !Hourh"l ' .. Tony ·webb CL.IC::. W) I I

I Yolunteers I I YolutJteers

:\laintenance Technician (LTC HI) Dase Bell, Andy French, & Deandre :vioxley

I Seasonal Employees Park Care takers

(Homly) :\{ark L av:son & Jay T avlor

I Recreation Director I

\Iutt 'Wilhoit (PAT un I

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Progra ru Instructors '

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OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENT

Mission Statement The Monroe County Parks and Recreation Department exists to provide quality parks, recreation and educational programs, promote appreciation of environmental and cultural resources, and preserve green space.

Planning Area The Jurisdictional Boundaries of Monroe County are comprised of eleven Bean Blossom, Washington, Benton, Richland, Bloomington, VanBuren, Perry, Salt Creek, Indiana Creek, Clear Creek, and Polk.

Abbreviated history of MCPR park land • In 1969, Karst Farm Park was established as Monroe County's first county

park.

• In 1991, W.R. Dunn and Robert E. Snoddy donated the16.9 acre Jackson Creek Park to the Park Board.

• On August 1, 1997, the Monroe County Commissioners purchased the 197.27 acre Flatwoods Park.

• On December 31, 2001, the Park Board leased the 48.65 acre Ferguson Nature Park from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. The land was donated by Steve Ferguson.

• On November 13, 2002, the MCPR Foundation received the corporate quitclaim deed for the Ferguson Nature Park.

• On April15, 2009, Ernest S. Detmer donated the 18.02 acre Will Detmer Park to MCPR Foundation.

• On August 26, 2011, the MCPR Foundation deeded the Will Detmer Park to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners.

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I Year

1972 1990 1993 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1998 1998 1998 1998 2000 2000 2001 2001 2003 2003

: 2003 2004 2007 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012

I Year

2006

2007

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

The Administrative Division is comprised of an administrator, an assistant administrator, an administrative assistant, and a yearly hourly office assistant. The division is responsible for communication with the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Board, Monroe County Parks and Recreation Foundation, Monroe County Council, Monroe County Commissioners, other departments, general public, media, and staff. Other responsibilities include policy proposal, personnel, budget preparation, purchasing, planning, grantsmanship, and general operation of the department.

I Grant Funding Source I Notes (updated 01-10-12) I Amount

U.S. D. I., Land & Water Conservation Fund KFP, shelter, toilet, trails $42,280 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service KFP, retention pond/wetland, 1 acre $2,000 U.S.D.I., Land & Water Conservation Fund JCP, shelter, playground, trails $52,500 Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management Build bird houses with Girls Inc. $1,500 lDNR Hometown Indiana Soccer fields, lighting, irrigation, paths $26,000 Indiana Humanities Council Recreation Program "theatre" $200 IDNR Urban Forestry Create tree committee $3,969 Small Business Administration Tress for the county $9,000 Urban Forestry Tree Masters Program $2,300 IDNR Hometown Indiana FWP, shelter pod, restrooms, trails $200,000 Indiana Power and Light Company (I PALCO) FW & KFP $6,000 Walmart Environmental education field trips $500 IDNR Hometown Indiana FWP, finish items in 1998 grant $31,178 CARES Board Post prom party $1,500 IDNR Build Indiana General park improvements $1,559

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CARES Board Post prom party $1,200 I

NAI Interpretive Grant from Region IV FW, bulletin board $345 CARES Board Post prom party $1,800 IDNR Hometown Urban Forestry KFP, arboretum $5,000 CARES Board Post prom party $1,500 Ind. Native Plant & Wildflower Society (IN PAWS) KFP, naturalization $500 W. K. Kellogg Foundation to CFBMC to MCPR KFP, splash pad, playscape playground $277,000 U.S. Fish & Wildlife FWP, wildlife habitat improvement $5,000 Bloomington Board of Realtors Environmental education, green spots $500 Monroe County Council Community Service Will Detmer Park, HHFB garden water $5,200 U.S.D.I., Land & Water Conservation Fund Will Detmer Park, outdoor development $200,000 W. K. Kellogg Foundation to CFBMC to MCPR Karst Playscape, musical playground $28,529 Redevelopment Commission Westside TIF Will Detmer Park, trail head amenities $164,000 319 Clean Water Act Will Detmer Park, bio-swale $8,475 National Audubon Will Detmer Park, rain garden plants $330 Redevelopment Commission Westside TIF Will Detmer Park, parking lot asphalt $31,000

TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT $1,110,865

I Endowments o~Gifts -Funding Source I Notes I Amount I Mike and Judy Carr Flatwoods park, concrete nature trail, $100,000

one time gift W. K. Kellogg Foundation, funds located at the KFP, Monroe County Access to $134,000 Community Foundation of Bloomington and Recreation, endowment may or may not Monroe County (initial balance $134,000) be spent at Playscape Playground TOTAL $234,000 ---- --- ---· - -- --------- ---- --

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RECREATION DIVISION

The Recreation Division is comprised of one naturalist and two recreation directors who program in the areas of environmental education, athletics, youth, seniors and special events. Seasonal hourly employees are employed as day camp counselors, after school instructors, coaches, referees, special event assistants, facility supervisors and an environmental instructor. The division is responsible for planning, promoting, implementing, and evaluating recreational programs for Monroe County Parks and Recreation Department.

Youth Programs Summer Day Camp at Karst Farm Park for ages 5-12, after-school for grades K-6, bike rodeos, Flatwoods Picnic and a variety of family events.

Adult Programs Soccer leagues at Karst Athletic Complex, Special Olympics, trips, Senior Games, fitness class at the Unionville Senior Center, Senior Day at the Monroe County Fair and special events.

Environmental Education Nature hikes, teacher workshops for project WILD, WET and Learning Tree, public classes and workshops including Hoosier River Watch, and environmental education at local schools from pre-school to college and camp.

Karst Farm Park Camps • Karst Summer Day Camp: June-August • Indiana Soccer Day Camp: June

Karst Farm Park & Flatwoods Park Special Events • Flatwoods Park June Picnic: Partners include IU Health & Monroe County

Public Library Ellettsville Branch, June 14th_ • AMVETS July 41h Fireworks at Karst Farm Park & the Fairgrounds • American Cancer Society "Bark for Life", a dog walk: August 61h.

• MCPR & Options Picnic: August 6t11

• Senior Games at Flatwoods Park: September 8th • Senior Games at Karst Farm Park: September 151h

• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Karst: October 8th • Bloomingcross Cycle Race at Karst October 15th

Other Special Events • Senior Day at the Fair • Senior Expo • Special Olympics Basketball sectionals • Special Olympics skills exhibition at IU Women's basketball halftime • Edgewood Elementary Schools "Girls/Guys Nights Out" • MCHA Auction • Children's Expo • Celebration of Families • Camp Fairs • Tree Fest • Children's Farm Festival

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• Monroe County Bird-a-thon • Kids Unplugged Day • Leonard Springs and Griffy Lake Nature Days

Karst Athletic Complex Tournaments • Koosiers Football Club Tournament: April • Hurryin' Hackers 3 v 3 Soccer Tournament: July 161h

• Hoosier High School Tournament: September 2-3 • LaCopa Tournament: September-October • Kohl's Cup Youth Soccer Tournament: October • Indiana University Men's Ultimate Tournament: July.

Matt Wilhoit Recreation Director- Athletics

Overview of the Position The Recreation Director - Athletics position is responsible for several program areas, including scheduling and assisting with all athletic events held at Karst Farm Park, assisting the maintenance department with field preparation, Special Olympic Basketball, website maintenance, and various special events. Responsibilities include designing program content, setting fees, facility scheduling, hiring staff, creating and distributing flyers and/or brochures, developing advertising/marketing strategies such as press releases and newspaper advertising, developing an organized participant registration process, training and scheduling staff, securing equipment, daily supervision of the program, and finally, obtaining input and feedback from participants through program evaluations.

Other responsibilities include representing the department at various community special events, as well as participation in staff, board and committee meetings, input into various departmental projects, and other miscellaneous administrative duties.

Special Olympics Basketball We had over 45 athletes participate in our program. We had four travel teams that competed against other counties and in the state tournament. Although none of our teams made it out of the section a Is this past year, all of the teams had a great season. Our fifth team is a house team that scrimmages every Sunday after spending a few minutes working on skills.

-Karst Farm Park Programs

Youth Soccer The Monroe County Youth Soccer programs had a wonderful year. The M.C.Y.S. offers programs for our local youth on a recreational and competitive level. In addition to the M.C.Y.S. soccer programs, we also hosted games for the Lighthouse Christian Academy High School Soccer Team.

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Adult Soccer We offered a pick-up league on Tuesday evenings and a team league on Thursday evenings for adults. We changed the format a little this year to handle rescheduling and added a couple of weeks of full-sided games by combining two teams.

Soccer Tournaments With the increase of players participating in soccer our tournaments are continuing to see an increase in teams participating.

Soccer Camps We hosted the Indiana Soccer Day Camp, directed by Todd Yeagley (IU Men's Soccer Coach). Camp went very well, with over 200 participants. We used Grandview Elementary for our home base.

Lacrosse The local High School Lacrosse Club team used our facility for their training sessions and games. The Lacrosse program also had an increase in players and scheduled a few more games. The team is comprised of students from Bloomington High School North and South. The high school program has been working with the IU team and we even had the opportunity to host a double header in which the high school teams played a game followed by an IU game. The IU team trained at Karst in the fall and we will be working with them to host their practices and games in the spring of 2012. We also have a middle school program. The numbers for the middle school program were great. I expect the numbers to continue to grow.

Ultimate We hosted a tournament that was organized by the IU Men's Ultimate team. We also hosted adult leagues throughout the year.

2012 Our main goal will be to continue to improve the field conditions at the complex while still keeping our user groups happy. With (12) fields we will have some opportunities to rest fields and rotate the wear patterns. I am also looking forward to our new website and updating our current website www.karstfarmpark.com

Beth Cossairt Recreation Director- Youth/ Adult/Family

Overview of the Position The Recreation Director position is responsible for several program areas, including summer day camp, after-school activities, adult day trips, and various special events. Responsibilities include designing program content, setting fees, facility scheduling, hiring staff, creating and distributing flyers and/or brochures, developing advertising/marketing strategies such as press releases and newspaper advertising, developing an organized participant registration process, training and scheduling staff, securing equipment, daily supervision of the program, and finally, obtaining input and feedback from participants through program evaluations.

This position is responsible for hiring and training as many as 40 part-time employees each year. Other responsibilities include representing the department at various community special events, as well as participation in staff, board and

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committee meetings, input into various departmental projects, and other miscellaneous administrative duties.

-Youth Programs

Karst Day Camp Karst Day Camp is our most time and labor intensive youth program. The program itself spans ten weeks of the summer, five days a week, 11 hours a day. Putting together a program of this scale involves planning many months in advance. Every half hour of every day is scheduled well before camp even begins, so nothing is left to chance.

Marketing our camp is an important process. We create a four-page full-color camp brochure which we distribute to every elementary student in the MCCSC and RBBSC school systems. We also advertise in the newspapers and attend as many community events as we can to distribute information about our camp.

Staffing and training is a major focus. In 2011 we employed eight day camp counselors, working in either a full or part-time capacity. We maintain a 1/9 counselor/camper ratio at all times. We interview many potential candidates before hiring the most experienced, enthusiastic and qualified camp counselors that we can find. The week before the start of camp, we spend four full days training the staff on site at Karst Farm Park. Every year our staff training manual, which is a comprehensive procedure and policy booklet which we use as the basis of our training, is updated and rewritten. We also ensure that all staff members are certified in first aid, adult and infant/child CPR by the American Red Cross.

As for the program itself, we offered an array of outdoor activities and games, nature education, field trips, arts and crafts, special event days, guest speakers and other traditional summer camp events. Guest speakers this year included Riley Hospital for Children, the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District, Bloomington Hospital health educators, Indiana University Police Department, Monroe County Humane Association and a BMX demonstration. Field trips included Hunter's Honey Farm, Bluespring Caverns, canoeing at Lake Griffy, Conner Prairie, Latest Glaze pottery studio, Western Skateland and Classic Bowling Lanes. We also took weekly trips to swim at the Bryan Park pool. We visited the Karst splash pad once a week, and made weekly trips to Grandview Elementary to utilize their gym for indoor games. Special events included a water play day, obstacle course, "World Cup" soccer day, a special scavenger hunt and our traditional end-of-year camp Olympics. A total of 244 first through seventh graders participated in at least one of the ten sessions offered over the course of the summer at Karst Farm Park in 2011.

After-School Programs We offer our after-school programs in four sessions throughout the school year at Ellettsville and Unionville elementary schools. These activities are designed to provide a fun and non-competitive atmosphere for participants to learn and utilize new athletic skills. We hire and train enthusiastic and experienced instructors to teach the fundamentals and involve each child in drills, practices and informal games.

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A perennial challenge that we face with the after-school programs is securing facility space. We utilize elementary school gymnasiums for these programs, and we are always competing for available gym space with other school sanctioned events activities. In 2011 the program line-up included volleyball, soccer, cheerlead!n~J. flag football and basketball. We had 144 participants in the four week/eight session programs in 2011.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day i This event is held every February at Assembly Hall during a~ Indiana University women's basketball game. It is sponsored by the National Alliance for Girls and Women in Sports to promote girls' participation in athletics. We provided a banner making activity for game attendees to display during the basketball game.

Children's Expo We were a co-sponsor and exhibitor for this community event, which offers health screenings, immunization information, an expo hall and camp fair. We provided an informational booth and youth activity to highlight the services and programs that our department offers. More than 300 people attended this event.

Celebration of Families We provided activities at our booth for the "Celebration of Families" event, an annual program initiated by Monroe County Step Ahead to promote community services programs to local children and their families. This event was held at Ivy Tech Community College and drew several hundred people.

Bike Rodeo We partnered with Indiana University Health/Bloomington Hospital to provide a bicycling educational/instructional event at local elementary schools. Elementary age students are fitted for free bike helmets, given one-on-one instruction on proper techniques and are educated on bicycling safety and rules of the road.

-Adult/Family Programs

Day Trips Day trips geared toward adult participants continued to be a popular program in 2011. We utilized the services of Rural Transit to provide the transportation to and from the venues. We create and distribute a comprehensive brochure which listed all of the scheduled trips for the entire year.

Eleven day trips were offered in 2011, including visits to the Indiana Live Casino, Edinburgh Outlet Mall, Covered Bridge Festival in Bridgeton, Nashville, a pontoon boat cruise on Lake Monroe, and several trips to French Lick. A total of 149 participants joined us for these trips.

Senior Expo We hosted an informational booth at this annual event, at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center, to showcase our programs and services for seniors in Monroe County.

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Walk Across Indiana MCPR Provided a booth at Karst Farm Park as part of "Walk Across Indiana", an initiative sponsored by Purdue University Health and Human Sciences Extension to promote walking as a healthy activity for people of all ages.

Discussion The bulk of our youth recreation programs saw steady or slightly increased participation in 2011. Expanding our customer/participant base is a goal for 2012. Feedback on these programs gathered from participant evaluations was overwhelmingly positive, and an enhanced marketing effort should increase the public's awareness and participation of these programs.

Catherine E. Meyer Naturalist

Overview of the Position The Naturalist position focuses on environmental and cultural interpretation for schools, groups, and the general public, as well as providing a resource management function for the parks. Duties are primarily program planning and implementation, but there are also administrative and supervisory duties for a part­time assistant. Program responsibilities include researching program content, setting fees, invoicing, scheduling facilities, creating and distributing flyers, brochures, and press releases, coordinating with partners and volunteers, creating registration processes, implementation, and evaluating feedback.

The Naturalist serves as Assistant Day Camp Director, plans Senior Day at the Fair, and represents the department at various community events, committees, and projects.

Programs There were 201 programs in 2011, not counting day camp or adult trips. This is 24 fewer programs than in 2010. These programs served 6,657 people, just 122 fewer than last year.

School Programs School programs and field trips comprise the largest program category. There is a $15 charge for classroom programs, $30 for half-day field trips, and $50 for full day field trips. A brochure offering various program topics is delivered to all teachers in the two systems and the private schools. 71 programs for 5393 students were requested by 5 MCCSC elementary schools, 3 R-88 elementary schools, 2 private schools, 1 middle school, 2 high school, a preschool, and 2 Indiana University classes. Math and Science Nights at 3 schools served 440 students and their families. The Grapevine newsletter was mailed to over 250 teachers during the fall and winter. Math and Science Nights at several schools were also on the schedule.

Youth and Adult Group Programs Special programs were presented to Girl Scouts, GS day camp, and their fall camping events, plus Meadowwood, the DAR, Habitat Stewards, Brown County Bluebird Club, Friends of McCormick's Creek, Bloomington Garden Club, Sierra Club, and Sycamore Land Trust. Programs were also presented at the Hilltop day camp. The Science Camp at I. U. included hands-on water testing and macro-

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invertebrate studies with MCPR and camp instructors were trained in Hoosier RiverWatch.

Workshops Growing Up WILD and Hoosier RiverWatch workshops were offered to local educators. Several sessions were presented at the Great Lakes Recreation Leadership lab.

Public programs Other programs included presentations for the Wildflower Foray. There were some storm water tours that were cancelled due to low enrollment.

Day Camp The Naturalist planned nature activities for the Karst Day Camp, supervised the garden, assisted with staff training, helped with field trips, and organized special theme days with the other staff members. These programs are described by other staff.

Special Events Special events offered by the department often require cooperative effort within and outside the department. The naturalist staff planned or participated in the Farm Festival and the Monroe County Bird-a-thon, Kids Unplugged Day Hoosier National Forest, the Nature Days at Leonard Springs Park for 6th grade classes, and Lake Griffy Nature Days for 4th graders. Furs were displayed at After School Nature Days as part of Take A Child Outside Week. Leonard Springs Nature Days serve 860 students and 538 attend Griffy Lake Nature Days.

The Department again planned the Senior Day at the Fair, a day filled with music, food, bingo, and fun. The Naturalist also guided day trips to Nashville and Covered Bridge Festival and the Lake Monroe Boat Tour and assisted with Woman and Girls in Sports Day.

Other Activities As professional development, the naturalist staff participated in the Environmental Education Association of Indiana annual meeting, Project WILD and WET Hoosier RiverWatch Update training, and updated CPR/AED certification. She was on the planning committee for the regional NAI naturalists' conference in French Lick.

The Naturalist served on the Monroe County invasive plant committee (MC-IRIS), Safe Routes to School Task Force, Bloomington Parks and Recreation's Environmental Resources Advisory Council, the county's storm water education team (SWEET), and the Monroe County Tree Committee. As a FrogWatch participant, the department monitored frog calls at Flatwoods and Karst Parks.

The Naturalist is called upon to answer many questions from the public regarding identification and management issues, as well as consulting within the department and other county departments regarding landscaping, trails, tree planting, and other management issues.

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Other Projects This year, the naturalist worked with Hoosier Hills Food Bank representatives to design the garden space and rain gardens at Detmer Park, surveyed boundary trees, and assisted with plans and grant applications for development of the park. Native plants have been planted to replace some of the invasives at the courthouse.

The Green Spots website was created and brought on-line and pavement markers placed at the current sites.

Discussion Day camp sessions were not counted in the numbers. If they were included there would be many more programs and participants. Program numbers and participant numbers are lower than last year due to decreased promotion to schools. The schools distributed the program information electronically to principals in each school. In the past, printed copies were taken to each school for each teacher. The majority of the programs are listed as talks, although that does not adequately describe the presentations, which include stories, crafts, and hands-on activities that involve the audience. These talks are usually for classes at school. Break downs of numbers by type of program, type of group, and age are available.

PARK DIVISION

The Park Division is comprised of a Park Superintendent, a Sports Turf Manager, three Maintenance Technicians, two Park Caretakers and seasonal hourly employees. The division is responsible for developing and maintaining county parks. Other responsibilities include risk management, athletic field management, splash pad operations, landscaping, grounds and facility maintenance, construction projects, snow removal, facility cleaning, facility repairs, equipment fabrication and equipment maintenance.

I Park Land Managed & Maintained

Year Park Acres 1969 Karst Farm Park 120 1991 Jackson Creek Park 16.9 1997 Flatwoods Park 197.27 2002 Ferguson Nature Park 48.64 2009 Will Detmer Park 18.02

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Total Acreage 400.83-

Park Maintenance With no large construction projects underway in 2011, the Park Division concentrated on park maintenance. Due to several years of continuous park construction, the ongoing, day to day maintenance was lacking.

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-2011 Capital Improvements

Karst Farm Park: Playscape Area • Poured final ramp to top parking lot. • Poured Patriotic Corner sidewalk. • Prepared site for musical playground.

Will Detmer Park • Demolition of structures. • Removed fencing and posts. • Removed dead trees, stumps and brush. • Removed invasive weed species. • Secured pole barn and painted roof. • Bush hogged and burned debris.

-Parks

Ferguson Nature Park The park is located north of Bloomington at 1000 East Will Sowders Road, Bloomington, In 47 404. The park is undeveloped and only open to the public for guided nature hikes.

Park Inventory (48.64 acres) • (29) acres of row crop • (20) acre riparian area • Bean Blossom Creek • Muddy Fork Creek

Flatwoods Park The park is located northwest of Ellettsville at 9499 West Flatwoods Road, Gosport, IN 47433.

Park Inventory (197.27 acres) • (2) playgrounds • 400' x 400' open playing field • (1) open group shelter with fireplace pit • (2) open shelters • (1) restroom building (pit toilets) & (2) drinking fountains • (2) basketball courts • Paved interpretive trail (1.76 laps= 1 mile, concrete) • Windmill • Giant sundial • Weather station • Hummingbird/butterfly garden • Wildflower area • Grass Trail • Wildflower Trail • Wetlands areas • Wooded Areas

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• Head water for McCormick's Creek • (85) asphalt parking spaces

Jackson Creek Park The park is located south of Bloomington at 5970 South Rogers Street, Bloomington, IN 47401

Park Inventory (17.52 acres) • (2) playground areas • (1) open shelter • Y2 basketball court • Nature trail • Wooded area • Open space • Fitness station area • Jackson Creek • (12) asphalt parking spaces

Karst Farm Park The park is located west of Bloomington at 2450 South Endwright Road, Bloomington, IN 47403.

Karst Athletic Complex The complex has (6) high school regulation size lighted soccer fields and (6) non-lighted fields. The athletic fields are used for a variety of sports.

Park Inventory (120 acres) • Karst Greenway Trail Head (funded project) • Karst Playscape Playground • (3) other playgrounds • Splash Pad • (6) lighted athletic fields • (6) non-lighted athletic fields • (6) open shelters • (1) group shelter • ( 1) climate controlled/full kitchen pavilion • Karst Dog Park • Dog Park trail (6 laps= 1 mile, stone) • Paved trail (4.5 laps= 1 mile, asphalt) • Nature trail (grass & crushed limestone) • Cardia trail (2.5 laps= 1 mile, crushed limestone) • Small nature pond ( .125 acre) • Duckworth Pond (3 acres) • Arboretum & Naturalized areas • (9) hole disc golf course (18 baskets) • (1) sand volleyball court • (1) basketball court • (2) horseshoe pits

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• (2) shuffleboard courts • Caretaker house • (5) restroom buildings & (13) drinking fountains • Maintenance & storage buildings • Asphalt & limestone surfaced parking

Will Detmer Park The park is located west of Bloomington, at 4140 West Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404.

Park Inventory (18.02 acres) • Karst Greenway 2"d Trail Head • Open shelter • Restroom building • Maintenance barn • Pond • Playground (2012) • Asphalt walking trail (2012) • (46) asphalt parking spaces (2012) • Community gardens (2012-2013)

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-Greenway Trails

Karst Greenway Trail Once completed, the Monroe County Commissioners will own the Karst Greenway. It has been suggested that a community volunteer group manage and maintain the Karst Greenway.

Phase I route: funded by INDOT grant & operational in 2013 • Trail Head: Karst Farm Park Playscape area • To Grandview Elementary School • To Highland Park Elementary School • To Stonechase housing addition • Near Ivy Tech Community College and Cook Corporation (side trail) • To Pliant Corporation • To Westside YMCA (side trail) • Ends at the intersection of Vernal Pike & Loesch Road

Mini-phase: planning stage & no projected timetable Karst Greenway will connect to the 2nd Greenway trail head at the Will Detmer Park (possible connector trail to the 8-Line).

Phase II: tentatively funded by INDOT & no projected timetable • Begins at the intersection of Vernal Pike & Loesch Road • To Ellettsville, via the Indiana Rail Corridor • Ends at State Road 46

Flatwoods Greenway Trail The Flatwoods Greenway is a future project to consider. No greenway route has been chosen. No funding for the construction or maintenance has been obtained.

Phase 1: proposed & no projected timetable • Trail Head: Flatwoods Park shelter pod • To the Ellettsville Wishing Well Park • To the RBBCSC school campus

Phase II: proposed & no projected timetable • From RBBCSC school campus to the Karst Greenway • To Ellettsville Heritage Trail

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Monroe County Parks

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-- Road Centerline

Lakes

Munidpal Boundanes

CJ Incorporated Areas

Township Boundaries

Monroe County Buundary

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MONROE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COUNTY GENERAL FUND 2009 2010 2011

PERSONNEL SERVICES

01 Administrator $52,983.00 $52,983.00 $53,778.00 02 Park Maintenance Tech $27,487.00 $27,487.00 $27,899.00 03 Park Maintenance Tech $26,370.00 $24,842.00 $25,215.00 04 Parks Superintendent $35,462.00 $35,462.00 $35,994.00 06 Office Manager $25,523.27 $27,358.00 $27,768.00 07 Assistant Administrator $37,624.00 $37,624.00 $38,188.00 08 Recreation Director $35,462.00 $0.00 $0.00 10 Recreation Director $35,462.00 $35,462.00 $35,994.00 11 Recreation Director $35,462.00 $35,462.00 $35,994.00 12 Naturalist $35,462.00 $35,462.00 $35,994.00 13 Sport Turf Manager $30,138.20 $30,138.20 $30,590.00 14 Park Maintenance Tech $24,842.00 $25,215.00 7001 Board Mbrshp Fees $1,925.00 $1,925.00 $1,925.00 7801 Hourly $49,500.00 $49,500.00 $49,500.00 7601 Longevity $8,400.00 $7,800.00 $8,800.00

8101 FICA $33,450.43 $32,787.53 33,113.00 8201 PERF $33,969.19 $34,344.81 $35,400.00 8001 Full Time Fringe $84,883.80 $81,020.87 $84,400.00 8002 Part Time Fringe $514.25 $1,014.75 $753.00 8003 FT unemployment $10,503.40 $4,472.00 TOTALS $ 590,078.14 $586,018.56 $590,992.00

SUPPLIES

02 Gas Oil Lubricants $5,500.00 $5,500.00 $5,500.00 04 Recreation $9,500.00 $9,500.00 $9,500.00 05 Office $4,500.00 $4,500.00 $4,500.00 06 Operation $25,000.00 $25,000.00 $25,000.00 07 Maintenance/Repair $20,000.00 $20,000.00 $20,000.00

I 21 Institutional $2,000.00 $2,000.00 $2,000.00 22 Horticultural $21,360.00 $21,360.00 $21,360.00 100 Gasoline $9,757.16 $9,757.16 $9,464.00 TOTALS $97,617.16 $97,617.16 $97,324.00

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OTHER SERVICES/CHRS

02 Postage $2,500.00 $2,500.00 $2,500.00 03 Travel/Training $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00 04 Communications/Telephone $5,500.00 $5,500.00 $5,500.00 05 Print $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00 06 EquipmentNehicle Maint. $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 07 Utilities $27,010.00 $27,010.00 $27,010.00 08 Repair-- Bldg & Structure $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 09 Sanitation/Trash Removal $2,000.00 $2,000.00 $2,000.00 10 Rentals/Leases $2,000.00 $2,000.00 $2,000.00 11 Services/Charges $12,000.00 $12,000.00 $12,000.00 12 Professional Services $1,000.00 $1,000 00 $1,000.00 16 Advertising $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00 TOTALS $58,510.00 $58,510.00 $58,510.00

CAPITAL OUTLAYS

01 Land

02 Buildinqs 03 Improvements

04 Vehicles

07 Other Equipment $26,157.15

TOTALS $26,157.15

OFFICE TOTALS $746,205.30 $768,302.f17 $746,826.00

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