Cross-country skiing could make the Starke County Forest a year-round destination. That’s the hope of Forester Bruce Wakeland.
Continue readingCross-Country Skiing Could Be Coming to Starke County Forest
Starke County Forest Getting New Bike Rack, Forester Reviews Annual Deer Hunt
It’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 readingInformation Kiosk Coming to Starke County Forest
Visitors to the Starke County Forest will soon be greeted with an informational kiosk. The Starke County Park Board last week agreed to let Forester Bruce Wakeland build it out of wood from the forest itself.
Continue readingStarke County Planning to Launch Parks Website
Starke County’s park facilities will soon have their own website. The county park board recently approved a $3,500 quote from Martin Services for the setup.
Continue readingEfforts Underway to Control Invasive Plants at Starke County Forest
The Starke County Park Board is taking steps to control invasive plants at the Starke County Forest. Last week, board members agreed to let Forester Bruce Wakeland start seeking estimates for the work.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Discusses Signage, Website for County Forest
It may soon be easier for visitors to find and learn about the Starke County Forest. During Tuesday’s Starke County Park Board meeting, Forester Bruce Wakeland pointed out that signage to help motorists find the forest from local highways was supposed to be installed as part of last year’s parking lot project.
Continue readingForester Pleased with Growth at Starke County Forest
The Starke County Forest is responding well to a recent timber harvest. Forester Bruce Wakeland told the Starke County Park Board last week there’s been a good amount of natural regeneration, according to County Attorney Marty Lucas. That’s preferable to planting new trees, when it comes to the forest’s management.
Continue readingBeavers Are Back in Starke County Forest
An ongoing saga at the Starke County Forest was recently brought to the attention of Park Board President Richard Ballard. “The beavers are back,” Ballard told the rest of the Starke County Park Board Tuesday. “I don’t know exactly what that means for us, but he said the beavers are back.”
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Chooses New President
The Starke County Park Board welcomed two new members Tuesday. Attorney Richard Ballard was appointed to the board by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall, following the resignation of Roger Chaffins. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler had been appointed by the county council back in January, replacing Debbie Mix. Ballard and Ritzler both took their seats on the park board for the first time Tuesday, during the board’s first official meeting since last September.
Continue readingOfficials Cut Ribbon on Starke County Forest Upgrades
Starke County officials hope that recent upgrades to the County Forest will help attract new visitors. County Park Board members and Community Foundation representatives joined Forester Bruce Wakeland, Commissioner Kathy Norem, and several others Wednesday afternoon, to cut the ribbon on the forest’s upgraded access road.
Starke County Forest May Host Cross Country Meets
The Starke County Forest could soon host high school cross country meets. Starke County Park Board President Roger Chaffins brought up the idea during last week’s meeting, on behalf of board member Chris Lawrence, who was not in attendance. “He mentioned that we’d see if we’d be open to that,” Chaffins explained, “and if it would work, I don’t see why the schools couldn’t do something like that.”
Native Plant Garden to be Added to Starke County Forest Parking Area
The Starke County Forest will soon get a native plant garden. The recently-upgraded access road now ends at a circular parking loop, with an open space in the middle.
Starke County Forest Access Road Upgrades Complete
The Starke County Forest’s new access road is now complete. The County Highway Department recently upgraded the old access trail into a gravel road with a 10-to-12-car parking lot. The work was funded by a $15,000 grant from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund.
Construction Starts on Starke County Forest Access Road
Work has begun on the Starke County Forest’s new access road. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that his crews began the process earlier that day, working on clearing the site.
DNR Finds No Flood Control Violations Near Starke County Forest
The Starke County Forest appears to have been absolved from blame for flooding concerns in the local area. A letter from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources was presented to the Starke County Park Board last week. In it, an engineer in the department’s compliance and enforcement section addressed concerns apparently raised by a neighboring property owner.
Starke County Forester Voices Concerns with Proposed Name for County Forest Access Road
The Starke County Forest’s access trail will soon be upgraded to a gravel road, but what it should be called is up for debate. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board Seeking Grant Funding for Forest Access Project
The Starke County Forest may soon get some parking upgrades. The county park board is applying for a grant from the Hardesty Memorial Foundation Fund at the Starke County Community Foundation to help improve access to the forest.
Starke County Forest Hunting Rules Questioned by County Park Board Member
Who’s allowed to hunt in the Starke County Forest and who gets to make that decision were topics of discussion during last week’s County Park Board meeting. Forester Bruce Wakeland previously told board members that he typically rents the forest to a group of hunters each year over the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s to help control the deer population, but also to raise a few hundred dollars for the forest.
Starke County Park Board Member Pushing for More Winter Recreation Activities at County Forest
The Starke County Forest may soon offer more winter recreation activities. That’s the hope of Starke County Park Board member Chris Lawrence.
Park Board Gets Update on Starke County Forest
The Starke County Forest is starting to build up some savings. It’s designed to be a self-sufficient park facility, with timber sales being the main funding source. Forester Bruce Wakeland told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that the forest will soon have enough money on hand to start looking at some improvement projects.
