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Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board talked about updates to several of their projects that have been in the works at their regular meeting on Thursday.
The board elected Troy Turley as president and Matt Metzger as vice president for 2026. With this change going into effect at this meeting, Turley asked previous president Rob Bishop to continue monitoring the email.
Aggie Sweeney made the board aware of maintenance plans for Deeds Creek. Kosciusko County Surveyor Jim Moyer contacted Sweeney and Bishop received invitations for a meeting that Moyer held, stating that this would be for significant work on Deeds Creek. This work would be done on the section between Husky Trail and U.S. 30.
“There is a significant amount of erosion causing the banks of the creek to be very steep,” said Sweeney, “and that is causing a large amount of pollution to travel down Deeds Creek into Pike Lake.”
Sweeney stated the plan would start in fall 2026, for possibly the next two years. She also let the board know this could lead to an opportunity for a recreation trail or park within that reach.
“This would not be a primary responsibility, but it could be an opportunity for a plan that could get through U.S. 30. This could lead to a connection to north and south Warsaw,” Sweeney said.
Board member Mike Cusick asked if this project is close to the light at Meijer, to which Sweeney stated it is, at the bridge on U.S. 30. Sweeney let the board know that if this does work out, it could connect to the Beyer Farms Trail. Bishop stated this would be a great idea for the board to implement a greenway or bike path so people could cross U.S. 30 safely.
Bishop let the board know they did not receive the Trail Acceleration Grant, but it was not the end of their project for having a trail that goes from Pierceton to Winona Lake. Bishop got a hold of Zach Dripps, director of operations and community development at the Michiana Area Council of Governments, to see what the cost would be for the pre-planning of this trail.
“We should seek permission from the commissioners to fundraise or self-fund the pre-planning for the Pierceton trail,” Bishop said. He clarified it is the county’s stance that if anyone wants to fundraise as a county entity, it requires permission from the county commissioners to do so.
There were funds already given to the board by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, and two members of the community, and Sweeney stated that these funds need to be earmarked that they are for a certain project.
“If the commissioners approve us self-funding for this trail,” said Sweeney, “then we need to go back and recommend to the Community Foundation that they distribute the $5,000 to the county, since they will be paying the expenses for this particular trail planning.”
The board agreed to go to the commissioners and seek approval for self-funding, and to have Bishop be the spokesperson. They also agreed to have Sweeney be the point of contact for Deeds Creek.
Turley let the board know the Community Amenities Project request was approved for Chinworth Bridge. He asked for the board’s approval to move forward with the letter of intent, which was approved. Cusick asked for clarification on what this would cover, to which Bishop stated it would be for all the “park-type amenities” at the trailhead.
Turley went before the county council to seek their support again for the Chinworth Bridge Trailhead project and also went to the commissioners meeting to give them an update on the progress with the trail.
“Specifically, I wanted to bring up the transfer of the land from the Historical Society to the commissioners,” Turley stated. “This would help us be in a better position to apply for grants and other things related to that project.”
Bishop stated he had given a copy of the deed to the county attorney, Ed Ormsby, who is looking into how exactly to transfer that deed to the county commissioners, “since this is more akin to a donation than outright buying the land.”
The next meeting will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 12.
