Richmond Parks and Recreation Department knows which company it wants to lead the next two phases of the Whitewater Gorge Park Activation project. And it knows the cost.
Four prospective companies were interviewed about their proposals using the newly permitted build-operate-transfer model. The parks department selected GM Development of Springport as the developer, working with RL Turner Corp. of Zionsville as the construction manager.
The advantage of the build-operate-transfer project model, as opposed to bidding individual project aspects, is receiving a guaranteed maximum price. That price is $5.45 million, said Denise Retz, the city’s parks superintendent.
Retz explained the choice to the Richmond Parks and Recreation Board during its June 11 meeting. The board unanimously voted to recommend that the Board of Public Works and Safety approve an agreement with GM Development and that Richmond Common Council approve a resolution authorizing execution of the agreement with GM. In its meeting immediately following the parks board meeting, the Board of Public Works and Safety approved the agreement contingent upon council passing the resolution, which was on council’s June 15 agenda.
Moving forward, the parks department will work with many of the same players involved so far in the activation project. MKSK serves as the design lead, and RL Turner constructed the Test Road Trailhead, which was the project’s initial phase.
The $5.45 million price tag is funded through Lilly Endowment money from Earlham College’s Revitalize Richmond grant and Wayne County Foundation’s Gift VIII grant. Retz said a team effort scaled the second and third phases to the comfortable maximum price.
Katie Clark of MKSK said Phase 2 work at the former Weir Dam site, which could include an overlook and kayak launch, should begin in August and be completed next spring and Phase 3 work at the Starr-Gennett location, which could include a play area, should begin next spring and be completed by the end of 2027. Final project designs have not yet been approved.
Parks personnel
Kian Eckert was introduced to the parks board as the parks department’s new trail and service leader.
Eckert, who received degrees in environmental science and resource management from Earlham College, said he’s interested in restoring the parks ecologically. He has been working part time in the parks’ floral department before replacing Brandon Panensky as the contracted trail and service leader.
Retz announced that Kyle Miller and Tim Wesler were selected as parks team members of the month.
She said Miller, who joined the parks department in August 2017, worked hard toward splash pad opening. Wesler, who joined the department in August 2021, worked for the Cordell Municipal Pool opening and posted videos of his efforts on social media platforms.
Other issues
- Retz said the parks department received about $109,000 in its second installment from the food and beverage tax. The first monthly payout was $92,000.
- Ten residents attended a public input workshop for the Glen Miller Park Improvement Plan. The department continues to encourage residents to respond to a survey at wwn.to/gmpsurvey. “We have had a lot of great input from our community, which is great, but we need more,” Retz said.
- Kristi Cruse updated the board on the Just Our Kids Outdoors summer program. She was especially pleased with the 47 registrants at Vaile, which exceeds previous years. There are 78 children registered at Mary Scott Park, 89 registered at Springwood Park and 100 registered at Glen Miller Park.
- Retz said an Indiana Department of Natural Resources fish survey at Middlefork Reservoir concluded that the reservoir does not need further stocking of fish.
A version of this article appeared in the June 17 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
