Valparaiso Magazine - Winter 2021

TALKING TOURISM
>> A PEEK @
The mission of the
We all have been challenged by the
unique, unprecedented circumstances
Valparaiso Department
of 2020 in our business and professional
lives. of Parks Valpo Parks and is no Recreation
exception. With
a priority mission to gather our families
is to be a leading partner
and neighbors together in places and in
programs in preserving, as a community, developing,
we have had
to find ways to safely meet that mission
and promoting Valparaiso’s
in new and innovative ways. Just like
you, unique we evaluate quality the environment of life. daily
and project our course of action with
the facts before us to plan our future
course. We have learned to be nimble
and change course as circumstances
continue to evolve.
Field at Tower Park
018
Overall, 2020 has been an extraordinary
year of service, financial sustainability,
and growth thanks
to our exceptional
staff and volunteers
led by our Park
Board, Park
Foundation
Board, and City
Leadership Team
led by Mayor Matt Murphy, City
Administrator Mike Jessen and Clerk-
Treasurer Holly Taylor. A major
key to any successful year for parks has
been the incredible legacy of private
partnerships of our local business
community even during these
tumultuous times. You have been
steady and encouraging.
As a result, we have had stability in
our traditional programs and created
innovations such as virtual concerts,
social distance runs, and modified iceskating
lessons and venue protocols,
just to name a few.
Along the way, we have had some
remarkable outcomes. Open per the
Governor’s safety guidelines, golf at
Forest Park and Creekside experienced
the highest number of rounds and
revenue in 15 years! Our Creekside
Classic for Kids Golf Outing was our
safest and most successful fundraiser in
its 18-year history.
Rogers-Lakewood Park had its highest
attendance season and highest revenue
year in more than 10 years! Guests
enjoyed the great outdoors with paddle
boats, disc golf, fishing, hiking, biking
and picnicking with family and friends.
ValPAWaiso Dog Park opened in May
of 2020 with expectations of selling
300 memberships the first year. The
Parks is now clearing our wait list to
fill requests for 600 memberships
and counting! Our partnership with
Maggie Clifton, the City’s Community
Engagement Director and with the
City’s Redevelopment Commission
has resulted in improvements at three
neighborhood parks — Jessee-Pifer,
Banta, and Will Parks.
Amid ongoing operations, we are in the
process of completing The Valpo Parks
five-year Master Plan with an ongoing
task force for youth sports facilities, senior
services, and skate park development.
We look forward to reporting to you
soon about those plans. So far over 1,400
citizens have been virtually engaged in
these discussions.
None of these positive results would
have been possible without the
leadership of our Board members,
most of whom are Chamber members,
with many serving as past and present
Chamber officers. They care deeply
about this community and its people
and families!
May our perseverance through 2020
give us a renewed sense of hope,
selflessness, and love for each other
as a community in 2021!
We are Valpo!
rks.org • 219-462-5144
38 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021