VanDeMark, County Park Board secretary updates commissioners on 5 years of projects and improvements

The Marshall County Park & Recreation Board was established on March 16, 2020, and on Monday, Deb VanDeMark, the board’s secretary, presented an update on projects completed over the last five years to the county commissioners.

The Trails at Mill Pond were created with the help of volunteers and donations.  The park features several mountain bike trails and a smaller section of walking trails.  VanDeMark said they see visitors from all over the state using the park. 

VanDeMark said Richard Zeigler with JPR donated a map of the trails using a drone flyover and engineering for creating the map.  The map will be available at the kiosk so users can see the different trails.  She also thanked the County Highway Department for donating millings for the parking area and said a bike repair rack and picnic tables have been installed. 

The County Park Board plans on installing a couple of security lights shortly and is looking at placing a utility shed for tools and the installation of a well.  The final project at the Trails at Mill Pond is the construction of a fishing deck.  VanDeMark said there is a question about the location of property lines with the DNR, and the park has asked the County Surveyor, Craig Cultice, to assist.  

The County Park Board has a goal of creating two to three kayak launches along the Yellow River between Bremen and Starke County.  Currently, they are looking at the southwest corner of the Hickory Road Bridge and the southwest corner of the 11^th Road Bridge.  The launches would have simple access to the river and off-road parking for a few cars.

VanDeMark highlighted improvements in the Memorial Forest, which is now home to the historic trustee’s log cabin that was built in the 1800s.  It was moved from its original location on State Road 17 at Sycamore Road in 2023 to the forest.  Improvements include a pavilion with 4 new picnic tables from the John Glenn Middle School.  They added a well for running water and have installed security lights and cameras. 

VanDeMark said that with some donated money, they plan to install a simple small playground in the forest behind the pavilion. She also noted that the walking trails in the Memorial Forest are being used a lot, and a project to add frisbee golf in the forest is in the works. 

Commissioner Adam Faulstich also suggested looking at the upcoming 12^th Road Bridge project that will begin in 2027.   VanDeMark said they have money in the budget and would like to try and get one launch installed yet this year.