Federal COVID-19 money could bring a new beach house to Bass Lake. The Starke County Park Board wants the county council and commissioners to earmark $1 million of the county’s $4.4 million American Rescue Plan allocation for that purpose.
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The Starke County Park Board is looking to be more responsive to complaints about the Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Rik Ritzler recently told the rest of the board that’s he’d gotten three or four complaints in the past few weeks.
Continue readingMerging the Bass Lake Beach and Campground’s finances into Starke County’s is proving to be tricky. During a special park board meeting Wednesday, Board Member Kathy Norem said that one batch of receipts shows the facility has brought in more than $58,000 this season, but only about $16,000 ever made it to Starke County.
Continue readingThe Starke County Park Board is looking to improve the quality of the Bass Lake Beach. Board members recently agreed to request some of the sand removed during Yellow River improvements near Range Road. The only cost would be to pay the County Highway Department to transport the sand to the beach.
Continue readingThe Starke County Park Board is considering the future of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground’s operations. “I don’t know if everyone knows, but we were informed earlier this month, maybe last month, I don’t know, that Mr. Callahan is deceased now, is my understanding,” Board President Richard Ballard told the rest of the board Tuesday.
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Cross-country skiing could make the Starke County Forest a year-round destination. That’s the hope of Forester Bruce Wakeland.
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The Starke County Park Board will still move ahead with plans for a series of kayak launches along the Yellow River, even though its application for thousands of dollars in grant funding was unsuccessful. The board’s application for almost $70,000 from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation failed to make it to the finalist round, according to Starke County Highway Department Office Manager Mary Perren, who helped oversee the application.
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A committee to oversee the upkeep of the Starke County Veterans Memorial is starting to take shape. A permanently endowed fund was recently established at the Starke County Community Foundation to help fund the ongoing maintenance of the memorial monuments on the courthouse square.
Continue readingPlanning continues for a series of five kayak launches along the Yellow River. The Starke County Park Board recently applied for a Destination Development Grant from the state. Officials will learn whether they’ve made the finalist round on February 15.
Continue readingIt’ll soon be easier to leave the car at home when visiting the Starke County Forest. A new bike rack was set to be delivered last month, according to Forester Bruce Wakeland.
Continue readingPlans to add a series of kayak launches along the Yellow River continue to move ahead. Starke County officials have decided to pursue a Destination Development Grant of at least $50,000 from the state.
Continue readingThe Starke County Park Board is looking to raise the rent on the Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Callahan Development, LLC currently pays the county $5,400 a year to lease the facilities from the county.
Continue readingThe Starke County Park Board continues to study locations for Yellow River kayak launches. Engineer Mark Wilson with Jones Petrie Rafinski presented a kayak launch feasibility study during Tuesday’s meeting.
Continue readingThe Starke County Park Board has hired an outside firm to help figure out where to install kayak launches along the Yellow River. Board members voted Tuesday to hire Jones Petrie Rafinski to conduct a feasibility study, at a cost of just under $4,000. That was about $3,000 cheaper than the other proposal the county received.
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Yellow River kayak launches, more parking improvements at the Starke County Forest, and unified signage are a few of the projects the Starke County Park Board is hoping to tackle in the coming months.
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The Bass Lake Beach could open as soon as Sunday. In an email Wednesday, Starke County Park Board Member Rik Ritzler told the rest of the board that the facility’s manager, Larry Clarich, is awaiting the results of required water testing. Ritzler said as long as there are no problems, Clarich plans to open the beach this Sunday.
Continue readingThe Starke County Park Board is calling for the Bass Lake Beach to open. During Tuesday’s meeting, Board Member Chris Lawrence questioned whether the Bass Lake Campground should be allowed to operate without the beach.
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A county-wide art installation, more amenities at the Starke County Forest, and a relocated shelter at Wythogan Park were a few of the ideas Starke County residents had, when it comes to figuring out how Constellation of Starke should spend its $333,000. That’s the money the region was awarded by the state for being a finalist in last year’s Stellar Communities Designation Program.
Continue readingStarke County will not help the operator of the Bass Lake Campground with the cost of electrical upgrades. After six months of discussion, the county park board voted Tuesday to deny a request to deduct the $7,800 cost from the operator’s rent payment. The project would have increased the electrical capacity in the back half of the campground, to accommodate newer RVs.
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Starke County officials hope to make a visible impact on the county’s park facilities as a result of last year’s Stellar efforts. Constellation of Starke will get about $333,000 for being a finalist region in last year’s Stellar Communities Designation Program.
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