12-04-2025
City to update parks
ELKHART — The City of Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department is looking to replace and update playgrounds at many of its properties this year, officials said.
Jamison Czarnecki, superintendent of the Elkhart parks department, said the city is in the process of switching out a lot of playgrounds and adding a few more.
The parks department is replacing and updating five playgrounds at Weston Park, Geroldeon Thursby Park, Island Park, Riverview Softball Complex and Gans Park. One new playground will be installed at SOMA Gardens located off of Division Street.
'More projects will be installed later in the year as they're confirmed with the public,' Czarnecki said.
The funding for these projects is provided by the city's general fund, a grant from the Community Foundation and a Community Champions Playground Grant from GameTime, officially through PlayCore.
Riverview Softball Complex is estimated to have a toddler playground complete by the end of April, according to Czarnecki. The playground at Geroldeon Thursby is estimated to be complete by the first week of May.
Weston Park's playground will completed by mid-May, according to Czarnecki. Island Park's playground is estimated to be completed by the end of May. The renovations at SOMA Gardens estimated to be complete in late June, and Gans Park should be complete in mid to late July.
Czarnecki said Walker Park will also be getting a new bathroom building and an outdoor gym, which are planned to be done by late May. He said there will be a celebration on June 7 at Walker Park to mark the recent improvements.
'The Elkhart Park Foundation is going to put on a full day of activities to highlight the improvements of the park,' Czarnecki said.
Czarnecki said the administration has been focused on making improvements to the parks to help with neighborhood and community engagement. He said it will also bring people into the parks to be more active and for their overall health.
Czarnecki said in the last master plan process, it was recognized that several playgrounds were past their lifespan.
'Many of these are over 30 years old and have become potential liability hazards,' Czarnecki said. 'We were able to go after this grant which opened up a lot of opportunity to replace them at one time. In doing so, it's going to make our parks safer because people will be out there on the new equipment checking them out with their kids, with their families, and with their friends.'
Czarnecki said the impact of these investments to the city will bring people out into the parks and will give families and residents an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. He also said when a city invests in its parks, residents and business are more likely to stay.
Christopher Baiker, president of the city Parks and Recreation board, said the master plan for the parks department is consistent with the city's broader ASPIRE plan.
'We're really trying to build a park system for everyone,' Baiker said, 'so that all areas of the community are served and that we upgrade all of the existing equipment and then also, kind of in a forward thinking manner, plan to better utilize our parks.'
Residents who would like more information about the parks can visit
