The response to COVID-19 will mean some adjustments for the City of Knox. Mayor Dennis Estok told the city council last week that preliminary reports suggest a decrease in funding for cities, towns, and counties. “The revenue stream is going to be shorted with this, and if you look at it, our [County Economic Development Income Tax] funds, people get laid off, unemployment, that’s where it comes from,” he explained.
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The Knox Board of Works has made a second attempt at awarding a bid for concrete and excavating work at Sandy Acres Park. Last month, board members conditionally awarded a bid to polished concrete Gold Coast.
Continue readingThe Knox Board of Works will continue preparations for upgrades to Sandy Acres Park this morning.
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The Knox Board of Works considered bids associated with some concrete work that will be done at Sandy Acres Park when members met last Wednesday.
Three bids were considered; they came in from Pete Kuchel Concrete, Ed Philip Concrete and Covenant Concrete.
Continue readingKnox City officials are about to take a major step forward for the planned improvements at Sandy Acres Park.
Mayor Dennis Estok recently informed council members that the Department of Natural Resources has received the grant funding for the project so City officials have been able to get the process started.
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The Sandy Acres Park Improvement Grant was discussed with Knox City Council members Tuesday night.
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A resolution related to a potential grant intended for improvements at the Sandy Acres Park was approved by Knox City Council members Tuesday evening.
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A potential project at Sandy Acres Park in has city officials seeking funds from the Department of Natural Resources.
While discussing some possible upcoming projects at last week’s city council meeting, Mayor Dennis Estok shared that City Attorney and Park Board President Autumn Ferch has been working on a grant to submit to the DNR.
If awarded, the funds would be used in order to help cover the cost of upgrading some of the amenities at Sandy Acres, the city park located near U.S. 35 and Veteran’s Parkway.
Estok mentioned some of the additions that they’re looking into, “New restrooms,new shelter,
Estok noted that since the grant money hasn’t come in yet, these are all just preliminary ideas that are being considered. However, the estimated cost of the project, including lighting, would be around $150,000 – $170,000.
The Mayor mentioned that they’re going after a 50/50 grant. He said since it is not in the Park Board’s budget, the City would need to come up with half of the money to cover the upgrades. He added that it could likely be feasibly split up between a few different accounts such as the River Boat and CEDIT funds.
Several community members, as well as a few city officials, sat in during Monday night’s public hearing for the Knox Parks 5-Year Master Plan.
Architect Mike Reese with the Troyer Group explained that a draft master plan was written up with suggestions from the initial public hearing, the stakeholder meetings, the community survey and recommendations from the DNR. Continue reading
Parks in the city of Knox will open earlier following action Tuesday by the city council. Continue reading
Knox officials are still taking naming suggestions for a street on the south end of the city. One of the projects funded by a state Community Crossings grant is the extension of 150 South from South Heaton Street by Sandy Acres Park past the Knox Community School Corporation bus barn west to Roosevelt Road. Continue reading
Knox Park Superintendent George Byer gave an update to the Knox City Council members last night on the state of the city’s parks.
Byer said since the vandalism has tapered off a bit, the park crews have been able to work in Heritage Park. They’ve installed a bench, a swing set, teeter-totter, and rehabilitated the monkey bars. Water Superintendent Todd Gardner will be helping the park department with running a line for a water fountain at the park. The board has plans to build a shelter at the park next year.
This weekend is the kickoff for the Knox Farmer’s Market at Sandy Acres Park on South Heaton Street. Food and craft vendors are welcome. Individuals interested in participating can sign up for free at the mayor’s office. All food must be homegrown, and crafts have to be handmade. Participants keep all the money they make. Even if you aren’t a vendor you are still encouraged to attend the launching event this Saturday June 7. The farmer’s market will be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It runs from June until the end of October.
IU Health Starke Hospital associates will be getting out of the medical setting tomorrow to spruce up the community. President Craig Felty says all hospitals in the IU Health system take part in a community day of service. This year the local staff is installing fitness equipment and painting the pavilion at Sandy Acres Park on South Heaton Street in Knox. ”
“We want to be good neighbors. We want to engage the community, and we want to do what is best in order to help achieve our mission, which is to improve the health of our patients and our communities we are in,” Felty says.
Last year IU Health Starke Hospital associates did work at Wythogen Park in downtown Knox. Felty encourages community members to stop by and visit the IU Health Starke Hospital administrators and staff members at the park tomorrow.
A park in Knox will be closed for the next several days for some infrastructure improvements. Parking lot paving at Sandy Acres Park on South Heaton Street is set to begin today. It will take about a week to complete. IU Health Starke Hospital employees have also scheduled a work day at Sandy Acres on Friday, May 30. They plan to install some new fitness equipment and do some painting. Knox Park Superintendent George Byer says Wythogen and Heritage Parks will still be open. Sandy Acres will reopen next week once the improvements are finished.
The Knox Farmer’s Market is scheduled to open in May.
“On May 5th, the Knox Farmer’s Market will open,” said Knox Mayor Rick Chambers. “The market will be open three days a week – Wednesdays from 2:00-7:00 p.m., Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wayne Hughart will manage the Farmer’s Market again this year. For more information, you can call him at (574) 200-9154.”
Knox Park Superintendent, George Byer, announced this week that Wythogan and Sandy Acres parks have opened. The swings will be up by next week and the water will be turned on in the next few days. Byer said everything will be ready for the children during spring break.
WKVI Radio has learned that a former resident of Knox, Helen Sands, has passed away in San Antonio, Texas. She had resided near her son Larry for a number of years. Helen Sands, in the early days of WKVI Radio, was a frequent guest on the night-time music shows and she shared her record collection. She was at one time an employee of the Starke County Highway Department. A memorial service is planned for Mrs. Sands next week in Knox.
Many people call it the greatest outdoor game that can be played by two people or two teams of two people. It’s horseshoe pitching and there is a new horseshoe pit at Sandy Acres Park.
George Byer and Clarence Marshall were completing the placement of the stakes for yet another addition at the Park on the south edge of Knox.
The 5th Annual Knox Cruise Night is set for this Saturday, August 6th. Registration and instructions will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Sandy Acres Park and the cruise begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m.
The route this year will take hot rods, motorcycles, custom and classic cars and trucks from Sandy Acres Park, north down Main Street, around the Starke County Courthouse and back down Main Street to Sandy Acres Park.
Thom Morin, who claims to be conducting a one man crusade to open up more areas for the handicapped in Knox, was back before the Knox City Council this week to point out the need for special restroom accommodations at Sandy Acres Park on the south edge of the city. Morin said a handicapped porta-potty would cost only a little more than installing a regular one at the park. He also would like to see a handicapped designated parking area at the same location.
