Goshen’s Hay Park on Plymouth Avenue will soon be home to the city’s first fully inclusive playground with the help of a $50,000 matching grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

If the Parks & Recreation Department can raise $50,000 by December 11 on crowd-funding platform Patronicity, the IHCDA will match the amount through its CreatINg Places program. To learn more about the project and to donate, go to patronicity.com/goshenplayground.

“This project is near and dear to our hearts,” Parks & Recreation Department Superintendent Tanya Heyde said. “It has been our mission to create safe, accessible spaces for everyone in this community. This project will ensure we have a place where children of all abilities and their families can come together and learn from each other.”

For residents of all ages with mobility or developmental challenges and other disabilities, the playground will feature ramps, wider sidewalks and special equipment that will give them access to any part of the playground, including the highest points.

While all Goshen playgrounds meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, the new inclusive playground will add elements that encourage engagement among everyone on the space.

Planning began with a committee made up of residents and City staff, who identified and listed the needs and resources to build it. Designs have been created and Hay Park, 1414 W. Plymouth Ave., was identified as the best location for the new playground.

“When I took office in 2016 I immediately knew I wanted the City to design and build a fully inclusive Park,” Mayor Jeremy Stutsman said. “I am grateful to have a great Parks staff, supportive donors and an amazing community design committee. This is only happening because we are all working together. This will be a great addition to Goshen.”

Funding also has been partially provided by the Kerry Finningan Rupright Foundation and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Stay up to date on the Parks & Recreation Department’s campaign by visiting patronicity.com/goshenplayground, goshenindiana.org, or following the department on Facebook or Twitter.

A contractor for the City will be milling and paving various streets throughout Goshen as part of the 2018 Paving project. Curb ramp removal and replacement has already begun.

This week (week of October 22), milling and paving will occur at:

• Egbert Road from Main Street (SR 15) to Violett Road.
• Emerson Street from Purl Street to Plymouth Avenue.
• Douglas Street from Main to Third streets
• Purl Street from Main to Third streets

Roads will remain open with restrictions while workers are doing the milling and paving. On-street parking will be restricted during these times.

Mayor Jeremy Stutsman and his family would like to invite the community to stop by City Hall Friday, Oct. 19, starting at 9 a.m., to pick up a rose for their loved ones as a way to thank those who live and work in the City for their part in making Goshen a stronger, more vibrant community.

Thirty dozen roses will be placed Friday at 9 a.m. on the steps in front of City Hall, 202 S. 5^th St., until supplies last. Mayor Stutsman encourages residents to take one flower at a time.

The roses were purchased by Mayor Stutsman and his family. No city funds were used for this event.

The 20th Annual Riding to Remember Police, Firefighters and Veterans Charity Ride was rescheduled to Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. The event is a 72-mile police-escorted ride with an estimated 1000 participants in attendance.

At about 3:30 p.m. participants of the ride will enter Goshen along SR 15 from the southern city limits to Lincoln Avenue downtown. They will hold a memorial ceremony in front of the Goshen Police station, 111 E. Jefferson St., and they will leave riding west on Lincoln Avenue and turning north onto 3rd St./SR 15 exiting city limits around 4:30 p.m.

The 100 block of E. Jefferson St. will be closed to traffic from 2 to 5 p.m.

Please be aware and mindful of the motorcyclists passing through Goshen for this event.

County Road 40 will be closed between Corrie Drive and US 33 on Wednesday, October 17, to allow a contractor to install two new water lines from the City’s water main to the new Keystone RV building. Both lanes will be open to the traffic by the end of the same day.

Beginning Tuesday, October 16, NIPSCO will relocate electric utilities adjecent to the River Art Development, and will close River Race Drive from Jefferson Street north to the east/west alley for about three weeks.

The east/west alley will remain open to allow residents and patrons of the homes and businesses that utilize the north end of River Race Drive to access those properties.

On Tuesday, October 16, Norfolk Southern will close the College Avenue crossing on the Chicago Line east of Lincolnway East (US 33) for track replacement.

The crossing will be closed for about 10 days. Traffic will be detoured south to CR 31, to Kercher Road, to Lincolnway East.

Additionally, the crossing on Kercher Road/ CR 38 located outside city limits will be closed starting October 18 for about 10 days as well. Traffic will be detoured CR 33, to CR 40, to US 33.