2020 Accomplishments
Tree Lighting Cancelled
The Park Christmas Tree Lighting event scheduled for December 5th has been cancelled due to increased Covid instances and public gathering restrictions. The Town Christmas Tree will be lit at dusk on December 5th. Please make this part of your family tradition and come at your leisure to take family photos following proper social distancing.
2021 Flower Fund Drive
Town residents: Don’t overlook the annual request for donations to the Town Flower Fund which will be included with your December water bill. Thanks for your support to keep our town beautiful!
Although most of our park events had to be canceled this year due to the pandemic, that doesn’t mean the parks and staff were idle. People appreciated the opportunity to be outdoors more than ever this year. Here’s a partial list of the things that staff achieved this year: • The Dutch Windmill in Krider World’s Fair Garden received a facelift. Steel siding was placed over the wood siding, and the top and fans were repainted. • Lloyd Bontrager Gazebo in Memorial Park was rebuilt with recycled plastic poly lumber. • Trestle Bridge was resurfaced with new decking and extended railing. • A trail counter was added to Pumpkinvine Nature Trail (PVNT). Average weekly count this summer was 3,800 with the highest single day count of 1,527. • “Stop ahead” stencils were painted on PVNT to encourage trail users to be safe. • Volunteer Trail Stewards Program was initiated. • A new bathroom was designed to be built along the PVNT near Krider World’s Fair Garden in 2021. • The new landscaping project at East Park was begun. • We planted our 13th annual Quilt Garden and participated in the Elkhart County Quilt Garden Tour. • Vinyl ribs on the toadstool at Krider World’s Fair Garden were refurbished. • New gutters were installed on East Park Pavilion • A new kiosk was added at Olde Mill Park • Tree water bars were added along the trail at Riverbend Park • And, of course, park staff provided and maintained the light pole flowers and other annual plantings as well as the many lovely, trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and other accessible outdoor spaces everyone needed this year more than ever!
Thank you!
Thanks to Star Fleet for once again sponsoring the Parks page in inMiddlebury. This page has proven to be our most effective means of communicating with the greater Middlebury community. Photo Credits: Tree Lighting photo by Gloria Salavarria Statue, Quilt Garden and Begonias photos by John McKee Giant Toadstool photo by Tom Enright THIS PAGE SPONSORED BY
SAFE
TIMELY
DEPENDABLE
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 7
