Knox City officials have several options to consider when it comes to curbing vandalism at Wythogan Park. Mayor Rick Chambers hosted a community discussion last night to gather thoughts on the issue. He says several good suggestions were offered.
Knox Park Department Completing Projects
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.
Public Input Sought on Problems at Knox Park
City and county officials want the public’s input on how to make Wythogan Park safer. Mayor Rick Chambers and others are hosting a community meeting this evening at 6:30 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox to discuss incidents of vandalism at the park. The Knox City Police Department has stepped up patrols through the park, but Mayor Chambers is seeking other suggestions as well. Continue reading
Community Meeting Set to Curb Park Vandalism
The number of vandalism reports in Wythogan Park has slowed, but it continues.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers is attempting to gather information to help curb the ongoing damage reported in Knox’s most popular park.
A meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox where opinions will be noted about ways to improve security. Any other suggestions will be welcome during this information session.
Are You Ready for WoodStarke?
Wythogan Park in Knox is set to be the location for a community gathering featuring continuous music, family fun and healthy food on September 13th. Planning is still underway for this function which has been cleverly named ‘Woodstarke’. Continue reading
Meeting Scheduled to Gather Ideas on Curbing Vandalism
The mayor of Knox is attempting to gather as many groups as possible to talk about the solutions to curb the ongoing vandalism issue in Wythogan Park.
Mayor Rick Chambers has organized a meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center to gather opinions from several groups to look at the problem from all angles.
Another Suspect Arrested in Battery Incident
Another arrest has been made in the Monday night battery incident at Wythogan Park in Knox.
Samantha Smith, 19, was arrested Tuesday night for her alleged involvement in the incident. She was reportedly in a car during the altercation.
The battery occurred Monday night inside Wythogan Park. A juvenile boy was struck in the head by another juvenile. The force resulted in the victim falling to the ground where his head hit the cement walkway. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and transported the boy to IU Health Starke Hospital. The victim was then airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital.
Suspect Detained in Battery Incident in Knox Park
The Knox City Police Department is investigating the battery of a 14-year-old boy in Wythogan park on Monday night.
According to witness statements given to a Knox officer, a male juvenile had approached the victim in the park and struck him on the head. The victim fell and struck his head on the concrete walkway. The suspect, later identified as a Knox resident, was in a gold-colored passenger car with four other people that left the scene.
Knox City Council Concerned over Vandalism at Wythogan Park
The Knox City Council learned this week of ongoing vandalism at Wythogan Park.
Park Superintendent George Byer has informed authorities that there is some form of vandalism at the park on a constant basis. Recently a picnic table was thrown into the river, a toilet was blown up by a firecracker, two fountains were destroyed and the cannon in the park has also suffered damage from vandals.
Meeting Set to Discuss a Dog Recreation Park
A meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 19 to see what the interest is in creating a dog recreation park in Knox.
Those spearheading the idea ask that all dog owners/lovers attend the 10 a.m. meeting at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox to learn about information needed to get a dog park approved in the city limits.
Chuck Richardson previously told WKVI that he presented a list of names on a petition to start a dog park at the Knox Park Board meeting last month, but the board members reportedly told him that they would like to see people attend their next meeting who are in favor of the incident.
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Vandals Strike Wythogan Park in Knox
Vandals have struck at Wythogan Park already this spring.
Park Superintendent George Byer told Knox City Police officers that on Monday, April 1 he found that some unknown person(s) spray painted graffiti on the new curly slide. The suspects also spray painted graffiti on a brick building inside the park.
Knox Park Equipment Damaged in Shipment; Replacement En Route
The installation of the new playground equipment for Wythogan Park has hit a bit of a snag. Park Superintendent George Byer told the city council at their meeting last week that the equipment was delivered, but it had been damaged during shipment. As a result, the installation of the equipment is on hold until the replacement equipment has been received from American Playground. The company has agreed to deliver new equipment themselves to the park.
Improvements Coming to Wythogan Park in Knox
Wythogan Park in Knox is closed for the season, but repairs and improvements are still ongoing. Park Superintendent George Byer told the city council this week that they are currently waiting for the delivery of 30 trees to be planted in the park, and crews are also working on installing a new piece of playground equipment.
Wythogan Park Still Undergoing Repairs
Though the park is open, work is still being done to restore Wythogan Park in Knox to its former glory. Park Superintendent George Byer said the majority of stumps and trees have been removed, but approximately 50 stumps that were uprooted by the storms still need to be taken out.
Byer said these stumps will be split between the street department and a contractor, with each taking 25 stumps from the park. The park board is still waiting on bids to come in for the stump removal, and Byer said once they’ve received all the bids and chosen the best contractor for the job, the first 25 stumps will be removed by the contractor. The remaining stumps will then be handled by the street department as quickly as time allows.
Wythogan Park Walkway Now Completely Safe, Says Byer
The Knox City Council learned last night that the cleanup at Wythogan Park should be complete today or tomorrow, but Park Superintendent George Byer said that does not include cleanup toward the back of the park. He said the walkway area will be completely cleared this week after more than 125 tree stumps were ground down and more than 40 root balls removed from the walking path area.
Mayor Rick Chambers requested permission from the council to use funds that had been previously approved to cut down cottonwood trees in the park. He said they had planned to use $1500 to remove the trees because they thought they were growing into the sewer lines, which could cause severe problems, but he said the loggers working on the park’s cleanup were able to remove those trees at no additional cost.
Wythogan Park To Open Today
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has announced that Wythogan Park will open today.
The walking trail will be open to the public but visitors are asked to maneuver around the park with caution. Some areas will still be closed due to debris.
Contractors will continue working in the park until all of the debris is cleared out, but the majority of the larger logs and branches have been cleared from the park.
The park was closed after a July 24 storm reeled through the Knox area, causing thousands of dollars in damage within Wythogan Park. The storm also caused millions of dollars in damage to the Starke County Airport. The Starke County Courthouse suffered damage as well as the radio tower at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. All entities are still attempting to pick up the pieces after the storm nearly two months later.
Wythogan Park Cleanup Nearing Completion; Mayor Hopes For Weekend Opening
“It’s starting to look like a park again.”
Knox Park Superintendent George Byer says the cleanup at Wythogan Park is nearing completion, and the park is almost clear enough to allow visitors once again. With brush pickup said to be roughly two-thirds complete, and the cleanup of trees and hanging branches almost halfway complete, Byer says the park doesn’t look so much like a disaster area anymore.
“The park is looking great compared to what it was here a month ago,” Byer said. “It takes time to clean up a disaster like we’ve got. I think we’re moving along very well with it.”
