The search for a new Park Director hasn’t slowed down efforts to rehabilitate the park lodge in Culver.
Right now, applications are being accepted for the position – which was vacated at the end of 2015 by Marc Hayden. He unexpectedly accepted a position as an aquatics instructor with a school corporation in St. Joseph County.
For now, Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist says they’re hoping to finalize a hire in the coming months; hopefully before the tourism and seasonal crowds begins to arrive.
“Definitely we want them in several weeks before that so they have time to kind of get adjusted and prepare for the summer season,” says Leist.
Some additional advertising is being considered for the position.
Right now, the Town of Culver is looking to stay the course when it comes to finding a candidate with the right skill set. Leist made note of the desire to find a park director with previous parks experience and an ability to organize resources to make the Town Park a gathering place for the community.
Culver is in the process of upgrading the lodge at the Town Park, but Leist says additional work is largely dependant on state funding.
“They have spent some money on it, but it’s been things that really needed to be done where we don’t have a choice,” says Leist. “Just kind of keep it moving along and spend a little bit at a time. The big chunk of it, we are really hoping to receive some grant funds for the larger scale projects down the road.”
The Town of Culver recently applied for an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant to help with planning for the rehabilitation of the lodge building. Once sufficient scope has been finalized throughout 2016, Leist says additional grant funds will be sought to actually perform the work.
The Culver Park Board likely plans to make a recommendation at some point this year.
