Kids are once again invited to join in on the fun at the Kerry’s Kids annual Kids’ and Teens’ Triathlon on Saturday, July 6, 2024, beginning at 8 a.m. in Shanklin Park. Participants ages 5-18 are welcome to compete in this professionally chip-timed race. New this year, kids in the 13-18 age group can now enter as a team of 2-3 participants.

While some of the participants are competitive in nature, the emphasis of the event is primarily on the accomplishment of finishing the race. Parents are invited to participate with their children during the run portion of the race to show their support and to be actively involved in their children’s steps toward healthy lifestyles.

The distances of each portion are based on the age of the participant, pre-teen or teen. Pre-teen racers will swim 25 meters (one length of Shanklin Pool), bike 1 mile, and run ½ mile. Teens (ages 13–18) will swim for 75 meters (three lengths of Shanklin Pool), bike 1.5 miles, and run 1.5 miles. Each participant completes all three portions of the race consecutively. There is also a category for non-swimmers, which is a category for those needing a life jacket to swim 25 meters; life jackets are mandatory for this category.

Registration is $30 per child, and team rates are $20 per child. Parents can register their children online or in person at the Goshen Parks and Recreation Department, 524 E. Jackson St. Registration is open through July 5.

Start times for each age group are below:

• Age 13 – 18 (individual and team relays): 8 a.m.
• Age 9 – 12: 8:30 a.m.
• Ages 5 – 8: 9:30 a.m.

Packet pickup will be held on Wednesday, June 26, at the Park Office from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. The Parks Department will not be conducting bike and helmet inspections this year. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their child’s equipment is safe for the event. 

To register, visit goshenindiana.org/triathlons.

The Goshen Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Pop-Up Water Park at Pringle Park, 1912 W Lincoln Avenue, on Saturday, June 22, for an afternoon of endless fun for the whole family.

Wristbands are $10 and can be purchased online ahead of the event or onsite at the event. The pop-up event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and food vendors will be on-site for an additional cost. 

For more information, visit the registration page or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 574-534-2901.

Last month the Department of Environmental Resilience and its AmeriCorps members worked with Maple City Health Care Center’s (MCHCC) Vista location to plant a small community food forest for the patients and staff.

The Vista Food Forest presents a unique opportunity for our community to learn about sustainable gardening, acquire valuable agricultural skills, and support our local food system. By promoting food sovereignty, the Vista Food Forest will engage community members in small-scale garden cultivation. Ultimately, the Vista Food Forest will foster local garden planning, propagation, soil/water management, and local food production while enriching the community.

“Working with Maple City Health Care Center on this food forest project was truly a delight. I’m excited to see the forest mature and the effect it is going to have on Vista’s patients and staff,” said Levi Moser, an Environmental Resilience AmeriCorps volunteer. “Hopefully, this project will encourage more people to see the possibilities they have to grow plants in their own backyards.”

Food forests are organized differently than typical gardens. Instead of planting in rows or beds, food forests are organized by layers. Typically, a food forest comprises seven layers that support each other differently:

1. The canopy layer, large fruit and nut trees
2. The understory layer, dwarf fruit trees
3. The shrub layer, raspberries, blueberries, honeyberries, etc.
4. The herbaceous layer, herbs and flowers
5. The ground cover layer, strawberries, and small herbs
6. The vine layer, grapes
7. The root layer, carrots, and tubers.

To begin the project, a section of grass was cleared. Then, a diverse array of more than 30 varieties of edible herbs, shrubs, and trees were planted to mimic how plants grow in the wild. Ultimately, this growing method will require less labor than a traditional garden.

 As the trees mature, the canopy of the food forest will be comprised of pecan and eastern redbud trees, offering the other plants cover from the peak of the sun’s heat. The understory is bustling with multiple raspberry, fig, blueberry, and honeyberry bushes, which are crucial in attracting pollinators. At ground level, herbs such as peppermint, oregano, and thyme are ready to suppress weeds as the forest matures, ensuring a healthy and thriving ecosystem.  

Of the 30+ plants in the food forest, several were annuals planted in the hopes that they would reseed themselves over the following years. Squash and pumpkins were especially attractive for this food forest because they will work with the herbs to suppress weeds as they spread along the ground.

The City of Goshen Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual Dive-In Movie Night at Shanklin Pool this Saturday, June 8, from 8 to 10 p.m. featuring the 2007 film “The Water Horse.”

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and entry is $3. Lifeguards will be on duty during the event, and no open swim is allowed during the movie. Pool capacity is limited to the first 200 guests, and floatables are not provided.

If you don’t want to get in the pool, watch the movie while lounging in one of the poolside chairs with snacks from the concession stand.

For more information about upcoming parks and recreation events, visit goshenindiana.org/parks-rec.