The United Way of the Wabash Valley’s Strong Neighborhoods Council is awarding $40,000 in funding for eight Neighborhood Improvement Project mini-grants across the Wabash Valley. Earlier this month, the Shelburn Park Board was notified that they were one of the eight recipients to receive the $5,000 grant. The Neighborhood Improvement Project mini-grant program focuses on projects intended to enhance the “look and feel” of a neighborhood by addressing public safety, beautification projects, blight elimination, and/or government-service improvements or a combination of any of these categories. The Shelburn Park Board will be using the grant to work towards their completion of their 5 Year Plan of cleaning up and revitalizing the community spaces in the Town of Shelburn. This grant specifically will be used towards the Dawson Pond Revitalization Project of cleaning out the pond, stocking it with fish, installing electricity for lights, and adding a picnic area for families to enjoy time together.
This is the fourth round of this community investment for the Wabash Valley's Strong Neighborhoods council whose goal is to create a positive impact for struggling families in the Wabash Valley by investing in programs and initiatives that provide our community with safe, vibrant, and inclusive neighborhoods. This is the first United Way of the Wabash Valley grant for the Shelburn Park Board and they are very excited that they were chosen among the many applicants. The Shelburn Park Board is currently working on the Shelburn Ball Diamond Improvement Project that was funded from a Wabash Valley Community Foundation Grant at the end of 2023 and will begin on the Dawson's Pond Revitalization Project later this Summer. Once those projects are completed, the Shelburn Park Board hopes that future grants they have applied for and are still applying for will help them do a major overhaul of the Town's East Side Park on Mill Street. Shelburn Park Board President Heather Lewis says "The Park Board realizes how important it is to have community spaces that are clean and safe for our town's youth and our main goal as a Park Board is to work hard to provide these spaces for the kids and families in town." Shelburn Clerk-Treasurer Melissa Copeland, who is also a Park Board Member, stated that several of these properties have been neglected for some time and need quite a bit of work. "It is going to take time and money to do all these projects but the current park board is dedicated to putting in the time and effort it will take to do it and not just do it, but do it in a financially smart way." The Park Board hopes that after all the community spaces in town are cleaned up and revitalized that they can start working on a way to connect all of them with a trail system or sidewalks. That way families from all over town can hop on their bike or take a walk and safely travel to and enjoy each location. The Shelburn Park Board is not funded by the town and any monies used for projects are from grants or donations.
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The Town of Shelburn's Park Board was awarded a $12,000 grant for upgrades and repairs to the Shelburn Ball Diamond. The updates and repairs will consist of making the entire park ADA compliant as well as installing a safety net to protect spectators and children on the playground from foul balls, a new shelter house with picnic tables, a new swing set, and more! The previous swing set was destroyed in a storm during the Spring of 2021 and while there is still a playground there, the area at the ball diamond is the only safe and usable park area in the Town of Shelburn.
Clerk-Treasurer Melissa Copeland stated that she's focused on bringing the quality of life back to Shelburn and the Park Board is really spearheading the efforts on giving the people of Shelburn somewhere safe for kids and families to spend their time. "We have a lot of families here in our little town and new families who are moving in. We want to give everyone, of all ages, somewhere to gather together as a community. We hope that the updates to the Ball Diamond will give the town more sense of pride and will inspire the younger generation to get out and play some ball!
The Shelburn Park Board hopes to have this project completed by the end of March, in time for a "Grand Opening Celebration" at the beginning of the 2024 Spring Baseball and Softball Season. They are already working on their next grant opportunity to make much needed upgrades to the Town Park on East Mill St as well as restoring Dawson Pond. The Shelburn Park Board consists of Danielle Schalburg, Jenny Ransford, Heather Lewis, and Melissa Copeland. The Park Board President Kenny Miller passed away earlier this year and Copeland says they plan to plant a tree at the newly updated park in his memory when the project is finished.
Presenting the check and pictured with Copeland is Wabash Valley Community Foundation Board Chair, Ally Orwing. |
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