The Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board has tentatively approved a logo for the county parks department.
At its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse's Old Courtroom, held two weeks later than normal, the board agreed to go with one primarily created by Grace College senior visual communication design student Ethan Jordan. He's been interning with the college's marketing office for about a year, said the office's Senior Graphic Designer Vincent Sell.
The design includes a sun and waterway. The board plans to have the Kosciusko County Commissioners and the Kosciusko County Council weigh in before the logo is formally approved.
If fully approved, the image will appear on county parks signage among other things.
County Park Land
The board also heard information regarding land for a potential county park.
Jean Sosnin, who lives near Lake Tippecanoe, noted there were 22 acres of land, which could be potentially purchased by the county for a park.
David Ransbottom owns the property, along East Forest Glen Avenue and Stanton Road south of the lake, and is planning to develop a housing project there. However, he told Sosnin he'd be willing to potentially change his mind before August.
She said Ransbottom would be asking approximately $1 million for the land. Board members didn't make a decision on the purchase Thursday, planning to check with Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy if a park was even feasible there at this point due to a zoning request for the land already being approved.
Chinworth Bridge Trail And Master RFPs
The board also further discussed creating requests for proposals for a project extending a greenway along Old U.S. 30 West between Chinworth Bridge and CR 350W and one developing a master greenway and blueway plan for the entire county.
Those will help with those projects being implemented. County leaders will decide in August if some of the county's American Rescue Act Plan funds received through the federal government may be used for those projects.
The ARPA funds in question the county set aside through its participation in the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs' Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program. The state created HELP to assist local governments with spending their ARPA money on projects to better their communities in four specific areas: advancing e-connectivity, enhancing quality of place, promoting community wellness and strengthening local economies.
To help with the RFP process, Park Board President Rob Bishop brought an image he created to Thursday's meeting showing where trail extensions should be created in the county, with suggestions being made at the meeting to consider extending areas also down toward Sidney and up toward Nappanee.
The board opted to schedule a special public work session on July 11 at the courthouse to further develop the RFPs before approving them at its regular July meeting.
Kosciusko County Auditor Rhonda Helser will communicate with the board about the time for the special session.
The board's next regular meeting is 1 p.m. July 20 in the Old Courtroom.