The plan is beginning to take shape for the reopening of the Tolson Center and how it will fit into Elkhart’s Department of Parks & Recreation.
Superintendent Randy Norton presented an outline of a comprehensive programming plan on Monday, May 6, designed to guide the future activities of the Department.
The Mayor’s office says the bulk of Monday’s conversation at Monday’s meeting defined the goals for this year, including a “reinvigorated” Tolson Community Center.
Police Lt. Wayne Bias and Mayor Tim Neese were among those who spoke in favor of reopening the Center, which saw funding approved by a vote of 8 to 1 in the Elkhart City Council.
The City of Elkhart released the following information about the Tolson Center on Tuesday, May 7:
The reopening of the Tolson Community Center took center stage Monday evening as Elkhart Parks and Recreation Superintendent Randy Norton presented a comprehensive Recreation Programming Plan to guide the Department’s current and future activities. In creating the plan, Norton aims to further enhance quality of life and ensure the efficient and professional delivery of parks and recreation services.
“Since taking over the Department, the staff and I have worked to establish the following core values: innovation, community enrichment, excellence, and exceptional customer service,” Norton said. “These values have been incorporated into every aspect of the programing plan and have helped to focus our efforts around a shared vision that moves us closer to national accreditation.”
In addition to outlining the Department’s core values, the plan defines their 2019 goals and objectives, including the creation of a broad spectrum of events that reach all of the diverse populations within the City. This will include the continuation of the many successful events initiated under the Neese administration.
The majority of the conversation Monday evening, however, focused on the portion of the plan which prioritizes a reinvigorated Tolson Community Center. Among those speaking in favor of reopening the Center were Mayor Tim Neese and Lieutenant Wayne Bias on behalf of the Elkhart Police Department.
“With the right programming and leadership, which we have, I know that the Tolson Center, like other park facilities, will be a neighborhood stabilizer, increasing adjacent property values and providing families an inclusive gathering space,” Neese said. “In reopening the Center, we also have an opportunity to promote to current and prospective residents and employers, that Elkhart is a vibrant, welcoming community that offers abundant opportunity for all.”
With adequate funding now approved by the Elkhart City Council, in an 8-1 vote, the Parks and Recreation Department will soon relocate its offices to the Tolson Center and begin hiring additional staff to coordinate activities at the Center. Neese believes this can be the ideal location to serve a cross-section of residents, including youth, teens, adults, and seniors.
“I have been a consistent supporter of the Tolson Center throughout my administration,” Neese said. “From the onset, I believed that any concerns could have been resolved with the Center remaining open, but the majority of the City Council felt differently. I am proud of the work our parks department has done over the past few months to really put our community and our youth first, and I want to commend the Council for following the parks superintendent’s leadership to reopen this important community asset.”
In the coming months, Norton intends to meet with community partners to identify opportunities for programming specifically at the Tolson Center and work with members of the community to determine need and demand. Potential programming options include youth enrichment, financial planning, and language classes.
The overall Recreation Programming Plan also establishes of a pyramid pricing model that consistently aligns fees with the benefit received. Programs and services with the greatest community benefit, such as parks, trails, and open spaces, will be assigned minimal to no fee. In contrast, programs with the greatest individual benefit, such as pavilion rentals and softball tournaments, will be assigned a fee commensurate with the City’s direct costs.
Both the Recreation Programming Plan as well as the Tolson Center Transition Plan will be subject to natural updates and revisions as circumstances change and goals are achieved. To learn more about the Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.elkhartindiana.org/parks.
