Ballard family donating piece of land for Greencastle park

Members of the Greencastle Park Board and the Ballard family celebrate the announcement that 1.2 acres of property along the south side of State Road 240 on the city's East Side has been donated to create the Walter and Eleanor Ballard Family Park. John and Marilynn Sturgeon (center) display a cake created for the occasion as Park Board members (from left) President Beva Miller. John Hennette, Park Superintendent Rod Weinschenk and Tim Trigg look on during the September session of the Park Board at City Hall. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

A 1.2-acre tract of land adjacent to the People Pathways section that passes in front of the Greencastle Walmart Super Store will become a city park, thanks to a donation by the Ballard family.

The parcel, located along the south side of State Road 240 on Greencastle's East Side, is immediately east of the easternmost entrance to the super store and comprises the site where the Ballard family home stood until it was moved south to property along Ballard Lane near the Putnam County Airport.

Marilynn Ballard Sturgeon and husband John appeared before the Greencastle Park Board at its September meeting to discuss the donation and the naming of the park in memory of her parents, Walter and Eleanor Ballard.

In representing the Ballard family -- including Phil Ballard and Sara Ballard Niles -- Marilynn Sturgeon asked that the site be named the Walter and Eleanor Ballard Family Park.

"We are excited as we envision a park for the use and enjoyment of our community and in the memory of our parents who contributed so much to the city of Greencastle and received even more in return," a letter from the Ballard family noted.

Walter Ballard served as mayor of Greencastle during World War II and was a prominent local businessman, owning the local Chrysler dealership among other ventures.

As part of the donation, the Ballards asked to retain a 30-foot easement at the west side of the property in order to access cropland off State Road 240.

They also asked that a plaque be erected to designate the original owner of the property, Dr. Stevenson, noting a history of the land and its importance to the community.

Another request was that as many of the natural flowers as possible, including a trumpet vine in the pine tree, be retained. It was also suggested that a butterfly garden be established within the park through help of the Master Gardener program.

"There are a lot of trees and flower beds we can nurture," Park Superintendent Rod Weinschenk noted.

Marilyn Sturgeon told the board the Ballard family was initially approached by organizer Joy Marley about donating the property during the early days of the People Pathways project and the family decided against it.

"Funny how things come around," she said.

The Ballard family will pay the title fee and closing costs on the land transfer, closing for which will occur in 2016.

Park Board member Tim Trigg called it "a wonderful, wonderful gift."