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Variety of upcoming programs, events get Park Board’s OK
From pickleball to Parkfest, the Greencastle Park Board considered nine separate requests Wednesday night for use of park facilities.
From music in the park to worship in the park to a movie in the pool, the Park Board either unanimously approved each request or tabled action until next month.
Park Director Rod Weinschenk said the nine special requests, the most in any one month in his 20 years at the Park Department helm, illustrate that people are ready to actively get back to doing things.
And judging by the Wednesday night menu, residents could have plenty of activities to choose from in coming weeks and months.
Requests approved were:
• Dates for a 28th season of the annual Parkfest musical program sponsored by the Greencastle Civic League.
A request from the Civic League was approved to reserve the Robe-Ann Park bandshell for programs on Tuesdays, June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, along with July 6, 13, 20 and 27. The weekly programs will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Individual acts were not yet announced.
• Requests from the Putnam County Pickleball group to stage two tournaments (July 3 and Sept. 4 with rain dates of July 10 and Sept. 11), along with a free introduction to pickleball clinic 5-6 p.m. on Tuesdays from April 20-May 11. No equipment is needed for those attending the clinic.
Club spokesman Mitch Dickerson said tournaments last year drew players from Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky, along with other Indiana locations. The club has been working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to gather information and possibly coupons from local businesses to encourage the players to spend the weekend and visit locally.
The board also gave the pickleball group permission to replace its current storage unit in the southeast corner of the courts with a larger one at the club’s expense.
• A 24-hour cycling and walking event, “Heroes for the Homeless,” at Big Walnut Sports Park Sept. 10-11.
Spokesman Joel Everson said the event, patterned after Relay for Life, hopes to raise awareness and resources for the local shelter, Beyond Homeless. Everson said he expects 100-150 people to be involved.
The Park Board unanimously approved the concept but asked Everson to return once details are ironed out to provide an update.
• Movie in the pool on Friday, June 18 (rain date June 25), sponsored by Amanda Procenti of State Farm Insurance. “Frozen 2” is expected to start at 9:15 or 9:30 p.m.
Procenti agree to pay a $200 rental fee to reserve the pool. Numbers will be limited to whatever health guidelines are in effect at that time, she agreed.
The request was approved, pending review and approval of the city attorney.
• Display of a Child Abuse Month banner and pinwheel garden at the southwest corner of Robe-Ann Park at the request of West Central Indiana Family Support Services Executive Director Scott Monnett.
Monnett said displays around Putnam County are designed to increase awareness about child abuse. He said 115 cases have already been reported locally in 2021 with those figures only covering January and February.
• Music in the Park, a Saturday, June 5 program set in the Robe-Ann Park bandshell.
The Apostolic Faith Tabernacle Church will be renting shelter No. 1 and the bandshell to stage the event. No one was in attendance to elaborate on the plans.
• Worship in the Park, involving three events to be sponsored by Greencastle Christian Church (GCC).
A free block party is scheduled 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 25 at Robe-Ann Park. A Cookies and Canvas event is set for 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 9 ($5 per person to cover materials). And a Worship Night event is set for 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 30 with a free hotdog meal included. The Cookies and Canvas event may entail use of three shelterhouses so that the artists can spread out better.
“It’s an opportunity to get out and have a fun night as a community,” GCC spokesman Hanna Newlin said, noting that families will be able to safely spread out while outside. She advised that the programs are still in the planning stage.
Park Director Weinschenk advised that they should contact the Putnam County Health Department about their plans as well.
“I think the numbers and the plans are most important,” Park Board member Pete Meyer said. “They haven’t even reopened downtown yet for First Friday. I don’t think we can make a motion until they have their plans in place.”
While the Park Board tabled the request, Weinschenk agreed to reserve the dates for the GCC events, urging Newlin and Pastor John Tischer to return in May with more details.
• A request from Greencastle Community Schools for pool passes to include in the annual GCSC Staff Appreciation Week give-aways. The board agreed to give two 10-punch pool passes.
• A proposed May 29 softball tournament was tabled after organizer Nathaniel Velasquez did not attend the meeting. Weinschenk advised that the date may change anyway since it is currently scheduled on Memorial Day weekend.
Park Board President Cathy Merrell was joined for the April meeting by board members Meyer, Tim Trigg and Joanna Muncie.
The board will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 5 at the aquatic center.