The City of Goshen Environmental Resilience Department is partnering with Downtown Goshen to host May’s First Friday Green Day Celebration on Friday, May 3. The event, centered on the courthouse lawn, will feature activities and educational tables from city departments, partners, and local businesses.

“We’re excited to once again be partnering with Downtown Goshen Inc. to celebrate Arbor Day at May First Fridays and provide family-friendly activities and environmental education,” said Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, Director of the Goshen Environmental Resilience Department.

The Goshen Environmental Resilience Department will host activities, including tree and t-shirt giveaways, a career and information table, and a tree-planting learning session.

Other activities include tree climbing for kids, tree art, face painting, live animals, a magic show, an electric vehicle demonstration, and live music from Goshen Elementary School choirs, Nayo Ulloa, and Shiny Shiny Black.

The event will last from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Goshen. The City’s AmeriCorps volunteers will provide a bike valet service for those who prefer to bike to the event instead of driving.

The City of Goshen strives to take the best care for residents and to ensure our drinking water meets all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) safety requirements.  As part of this process, the EPA will conduct community interviews in Goshen from Tuesday, April 23, through Thursday, April 25, regarding the North 5th Street Superfund Site

During one of the City’s routine tests in 2015, a plume of chlorinated solvents was found in the four municipal wells at the site. The groundwater contaminants found in the municipal wells are at levels below the Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level, or MCL, and the groundwater is processed at the City’s treatment plant in Goshen to ensure its safety before it is distributed to residents.

“The City’s Water and Sewer Department consistently tests water for contaminants, and our drinking water levels continue to test below the maximum level set by the EPA, and therefore is safe for residents,” said Water Superintendent Marv Shepherd. “We will continue to work closely with the EPA to identify and clean up this site and are appreciative for the potential for federal dollars that come with this designation.”

Additional Background

The City of Goshen has been proactively working with the IDEM and the EPA to track the source of the contaminant at the North 5^th Street Groundwater Contamination site.  In 2021, the City announced that the Water and Sewer Department had been working closely with IDEM to determine the source by obtaining deep groundwater samples and requested the EPA place the site on the National Priorities List (NPL).

In 2022, the EPA placed this site on the  NPL, which serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding. The City of Goshen will now be able to utilize federal funds only available for sites included on the NPL for long-term, permanent cleanup.

“These community interviews are part of the EPA’s process to ensure the Goshen community gets the information it needs about this site,” said Adrian Palomeque, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator. “Testing of the city wells shows the municipal drinking water meets federal EPA standards.”

Community Interviews Process

Community interviews are a typical part of the EPA’s process when working with Superfund sites. The feedback will help agency officials better understand what information the community needs and how they receive information. This feedback will be used to write a Community Involvement Plan for the site.

The EPA will schedule 30-minute one-on-one community interviews at the Goshen Public Library, 601 S 5th Street, on Tuesday, April 23, between 5 and 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday and Thursday, April 24 and April 25, between 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. To schedule an interview, call or email EPA contractor Gavin Reynolds at 312-201-7446 or gavin.reynolds@tetratech.com.

Additional Information:

For additional information on the North 5^th Street site, visit epa.gov/superfund/north5thstreet

For further questions about the site, contact Adrian Palomeque, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at 440-250-1715 or palomeque.adrian@epa.gov

In conjunction with the Goshen Chamber of Commerce’s “Beautify Goshen” Week, the Goshen Street Department will offer additional disposal services from Saturday, April 27, to Saturday, May 4, to assist city residents in their “Beautify Goshen” tasks.

This free service is only available during this eight-day period, and there is no limit to the quantity of items that may be disposed of. Residents must make arrangements to transport items to the Goshen Street Department, 475 Steury Avenue. There will be no curbside pickup. Because this free service is paid for by the tax dollars of Goshen City residents, only City residents are allowed to dispose of items. IDs will be checked to verify residency.

Hours of operation:

• Saturday, April 27: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, April 28: CLOSED
• Monday, April 29 – Friday, May 3: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, May 4: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To keep prohibited items from entering the waste stream, the Street Department will have a crew member on hand at all times to monitor the items being accepted. Items that can be disposed of are:

• Non-hazardous waste such as furniture, carpeting, lumber, drywall, metal and vinyl siding, windows, fiberglass insulation, mattresses, stoves, landscape, timber, bricks, etc.
• White goods, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, dehumidifiers, etc. (The Freon does not have to be removed)
• Electronic waste, such as computers, home phones, televisions, etc.
• Tires up to 16 1/2″, either on or off their rims

The following items are not accepted:

• Pesticides or herbicides (insect or weed killers)
• Unlabeled drums containing any substance
• Sealed pressurized containers (propane tanks, etc.)
• Paint thinners, oil base or water base paint
• Brush and yard waste
• Asbestos insulation
• Contaminated soil

During the other 51 weeks of the year, Goshen residents may place one or two large items per month with their regular weekly trash for removal. (This does not include electronics, old tube-type televisions, cooling appliances containing Freon, or any of the items not accepted in the Beautify Goshen disposal.) You will need to contact Borden Waste-Away two days before your normal pick-up day to arrange for the pick-up. Contact Borden Waste-Away at (574) 293-5001 for details of the year-long, large-item disposal.

All city offices will be closed on Friday, March 29 in observance of Good Friday.

Trash collection will NOT be affected by the holiday this week.

Goshen Parks and Recreation’s Discovery Day Camp registration is now open!

This summer day camp is a fun and exciting summertime camp for children ages 5-12. The camp runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and begins June 3 and will be staffed through August 9.

All Discovery Day Campers will enjoy the Shanklin Pool on a regular basis as well as other park department summer activities including art camp and the Kids’ and Teens’ Triathlon. All summer activities are designed to introduce campers to new activities or expand existing interests, all the while experiencing new life skills. Each of the 10 weeks of camp has its own theme, during which campers participate in games, activities, and off-campus field trips related to that week’s theme.

Registration details

• Fee for Goshen residents: $100 per week + $15 one-time registration fee
• Fee for non-residents: $120 per week and $15 one-time registration fee
• Additional Required Camp Activities: Martial Arts $30, Art Camp $40, and Triathlon $20
• The registration fee, first week’s tuition, and additional Kids’ & Teens’ Triathlon fee must be paid upon registration
• Please bring the following items to register: Driver’s License Number for the parent/guardian and any individuals authorized to pick up your child from camp
• Parents can either register in person at the Goshen Parks & Recreation Department Office (524 E Jackson St.) or online.

Camp enrollment is limited, so parents/guardians are encouraged to register children early to ensure their space is reserved.

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

The Goshen Parks and Recreation Department is once again hiring for a variety of summer positions, including Lifeguards and Swim Lesson Instructors.

Lifeguards and Swim Lesson Instructors must be at least 16 years of age and possess the following certifications: American Red Cross Lifeguard, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid. Swim Lesson Instructors must also have the following certifications: Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Red Cross CPR for Professional Rescuers. Lifeguards are paid $17.84/hr, and Swim Lesson Instructors are paid $19.55/hr.

If you are interested in being a Swim Lesson Instructor but are not certified, you can become certified by taking classes at the Goshen Aquatic Center. Visit the Goshen Aquatic Center website for more information and to register for classes.

Applications can be found at goshenindiana.org/hr-opportunities. Complete applications can be submitted online or emailed to kimberleestephens@goshencity.com.

Below is the full list of open positions and their job descriptions:

• Pool Director
• Assistant Pool Director
• Swim Lesson Instructor
• Lifeguard
• Pool Cashier
• Custodian
• Fidler Pond Attendant
• Landscaping
• Mower
• Discovery Day Camp Program Director
• Discovery Day Camp Assistant Program Director
• Discovery Day Camp Program Leader