Constellation of Starke is reporting positive feedback on its Regional Improvement Project. In an online community outreach event Thursday, Executive Committee Member Marty Lucas explained that the region got $333,000 for being a finalist in last year’s Stellar Communities Designation Program.
“Obviously, if we’d have been the winner of the Stellar designation, we would’ve received much more substantial funding, and it really would’ve been that kind of transformative experience,” Lucas said. “But with the $330,000 that we do get for this, we want to get the most impact that we can. That’s the key thing: getting the most community impact we can.”
The proposed project would involve new recreational facilities at four locations around Starke County. Bass Lake would get a new trailhead, restrooms, and upgraded parking lot in what’s currently an informal parking area at county roads 210 and 450 East. New restrooms would be added to North Judson’s Norwayne Field and the Koontz Lake Lions Park. At Wythogan Park in Knox, an existing shelter near the Yellow River would be demolished and replaced with a new one closer to the splash pad, freeing up space to upgrade the site’s parking lot.
Of the 95 people who’d responded to an online survey as of Thursday, about two-thirds believed the projects would have a regional impact. The Norwayne Field restrooms got the highest percentage of support, but respondents considered the Bass Lake trailhead to be the top priority.
Executive Committee Member Jacque Ryan noted that someone did voice concern about the potential of vandalism with putting restrooms “in the middle of nowhere” as part of the trailhead project. “I think with a comment like that, something that the Constellation of Starke group can work on is making sure that those places are monitored,” Ryan explained. “And really what it comes down to is we can’t just not do something because we’re afraid of what might happen, but if we take steps to ensure that it’s harder for that to happen, that’s really the best way to address those concerns.”
Lucas added that improvements that make it easier to enjoy the outdoors seemed to be a big priority in the various public outreach sessions Constellation of Starke has held over the past year. “I know that these are maybe not the most glamorous projects in the world, but we have a lot of nice things that we just need to make it a little easier for people to use,” Lucas said. “So I think that’s what has led us to this in many ways.”
Residents can still take Constellation of Starke’s Stellar Finalist Funding survey until Monday at noon. You can hear more from Thursday’s online community outreach event this Sunday at noon on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints on K99.3, or watch the entire video on the Constellation of Starke Facebook page.
