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Parks Committee Meeting – Shirley James, Chair
Evansville Parks Foundation Joins Hands with the Howell Booster Club:
Many westsiders do not realize the benefits of the Evansville Parks Foundation.
The Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization to raise money
in order to supplement the Evansville Dept. of Parks and Recreation in improving
and maintaining the city’s parks. This time they have decided to do an event at
Howell Park and share the profits with the Howell Booster Club. As most of you
know, Howell Booster Club leases Howell Park from the city, and they have been
excellent caretakers of the park, gives two annual $500 scholarships, and
contributes to the west side food bank. As a result of this partnership, a very
exciting and original event is taking place at the facility on OCTOBER 24. It is
called the HOWELL-OWEEN GLOW GOLF EVENT.
This will be a fun-filled autumn evening of glow golfing, barbeque chicken
dinners, hayrides, costume contests, and “haunted” tours of the Howell Wetlands
is planned. SUPPORT THE EVANSVILLE PARKS FOUNDATION AND THE HOWELL BOOSTER CLUB.
JOIN THE FUN AT 6:00 P.M. Call Lauren Rickelman at 963-0938, 568-5907, or e-mail
Lrickelman@aol.com for information.
A New West Side Park: As reported in previous newsletters, when the
Expressway is expanded it will take the West Side Nut Club Park. Glenn Boberg,
the Principal Parks Planner for the Evansville Dept. of Parks and Recreation,
tells us the state has to replace the park. The site for the new park will be
west of St. Joe and north of the Lloyd in the old Bristol-Myers parking lot.
Burdette Park: If you haven’t seen the new Discovery Center at Burdette Park
you have missed something very special. This is a facility of which the west
side can be very proud. It is a work of art, beautifully constructed, and a
delight to behold. Call the park and make arrangements for a tour. The park is
well-maintained and the landscaping enhances the natural beauty of the grounds.
Also ask Bill Murphy to give you a tour of the old WPA sites and tell you about
the history of Burdette. Bill has done a wonderful job of researching the park.
He also is in the process of establishing a Burdette Park Historical Society. If
you want to join, it costs $10.00. Call Bill at 435-5602.
Moutoux Park: John Pease and Gino Gott of the Westside Youth Soccer Club
made a presentation to the Evansville Parks Foundation to discuss their plans
and to see how they can cooperate in the future. They passed around a detailed
planning brochure that will be put on WIA’s website (www.westsideimprovement.org).
The Foundation is planning to utilize funds from Bill Moutoux’s will to add
benches, build a fishing pier, and plant some trees at the park. This is in
addition to the playground that is being presently constructed. John Pease
announced the city has agreed to proceed with the electricity at the park.
Everything is looking up at Moutoux Park.
Making the dream of building a city within a park come true: Many of you do not
realize the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage eventually will tie into Howell Park
and Wetlands and run along the Carpentier Creek natural corridor. Recently
members of WIA, Valley Watch, Four River’s Resources and the Vanderburgh County
Soil and Water Conservation District discussed the feasibility of combining the
David Dale Owen Land Trust established by Valley Watch and WIA with the Wabash
Heritage Land Trust. Four Rivers Resources is the parent organization of
the Wabash Heritage Land Trust. If this occurs the five acres owned by the
David Dale Owen Trust will be turned over to Wabash. Also being considered is
another piece of land that may be donated to WIA for a park. Both pieces align
Carpentier Creek. This is the way to preserve the natural beauty of our area.
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