Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Almost a year after it was planned, "The Gardens of Central Park" opened to the public today.
The project is a privately funded gift to the town, financed by Bob and Roma Maish through the Kosciusko County Foundation.
"I am extremely pleased with the way it has turned out," Bob Maish said Wednesday. A lifelong resident of Warsaw, he said he and Roma established the garden because they were so impressed with the transformation of the area into Central Park.
"That prompted me to go to Jeff (Plank) and say, 'How would you like some flowers to really spruce the place up?' "
He hired landscape architect Michael "Mick" Welborn to design the garden, and credits Welborn with the success of the 10,000-square-foot garden: "He thought of everything."
Welborn said Tuesday that some planting for the garden was delayed this spring because of the weather, but everything should be in full bloom in a month.
"The Gardens of Central Park" is fully funded through an endowment the Maishes set up through the Kosciusko County Foundation. The fund not only paid to develop the garden, but will be "sufficient to maintain the garden forever and ever," Bob Maish said.
The Maishes also established a committee to be responsible for the quality of the garden maintenance.
"We want to make certain that the gardens will be maintained to the highest degree of excellence," Bob said.
Welborn said the garden, which is enclosed by gates and a fence, will be closed during the BalloonFest concert because of the immaturity of the flowers and flower beds.
The rest of the year, the garden will be open the following hours: April and May, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; June through August, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; September and October, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Two entry gates are included in the fence, Welborn said, and both gates are on timers. They will close and lock automatically at closing time.
While the gardens opened today, the Maishes plan a formal dedication ceremony later this summer.
