Cambridge City aims to make Creitz Park more welcoming to all area kids and families, regardless of their abilities.
A crowdfunding campaign launched last week to renovate the park’s playground.
If $50,000 is raised by 10 p.m. June 23, the town will receive a matching grant of the same amount through Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program.
This is the fifth Wayne County community to begin a park fundraising campaign this spring. Campaigns for Dublin and Milton are still underway, while Economy and East Germantown’s fundraisers met their goals.
Funds raised during Cambridge City’s campaign will be used to install new and accessible play equipment, benches, and asphalt paths at historic Creitz Park at 150 N. Foote St., just north of downtown Cambridge City.
“The Town of Cambridge City is excited to partner with IHCDA to provide new playground equipment for our park,” said Jim McLane, Cambridge City Town Council president, in a news release. “It is imperative that we continue to improve the area – keeping Creitz Park a safe and inviting environment for our citizens to enjoy for many years to come.”
As of press time, $1,100 has been raised toward the all-or-nothing match.
Several amenities are planned for the 4,500-square-foot area, including a shock-absorbing engineered wood fiber surface. It will be enclosed with recycled Miracle Timbers for the border.
New equipment includes a covered two-story structure with multiple slides, climbers and other interactive pieces, a lookout tower, crunch station, accessible swing sets, a large and colorful xylophone, conga drums, a sit/stand spinner, two spring riders, and benches.
Creitz Park currently has baseball diamonds, basketball courts, a disc golf course, horseshoe courts, a historic swinging bridge, large shelters, a natural amphitheater and a performance venue that soon will be in place to host summer concerts.
Campaign organizers say their vision is for the playground project to be a continuation — not an end — of improvements for the Western Wayne park.
Donations can be mailed or delivered to town hall, made payable to Town of Cambridge City, at 127 N. Foote St., Cambridge City, IN 47327. “For Park Playground” should be included in the memo.
Gifts also may be made online at wwn.to/ccpark.
“This exciting proposal for an enhanced playground will increase access to recreation, promote healthy lifestyles and improve the overall quality of life in Cambridge City,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the release. “This project will bring immediate positive change to the area and is an excellent example of how the CreatINg Places program can be used to benefit an entire community.”
Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $10.6 million in public funds and an additional $8.8 million in matching IHCDA funds.
Continuing campaigns
Dublin
If $50,000 is raised by 3 p.m. May 25 for Wilson Park on Milton Street, it would be matched.
As of press time, $20,440 has been donated by 66 patrons.
Goals include replacing the current surface cover with new poured-in-place rubber surfaces for the east playground area and the older play area as additional funding is available. Playground equipment that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act would be included in future phases.
Cash or checks made payable to the Town of Dublin Park Project may be delivered to town hall, 2250 E. Cumberland St., Dublin, during regular business hours. Checks also may be mailed to P.O. Box 145, Dublin, IN 47335, or donations may be made at wwn.to/dublinplayground.
For more information, call 765-478-4878.
Milton
The southwestern Wayne County town also is seeking $50,000 by 10 p.m. May 18 to resurface its basketball court and add shelters, picnic tables, benches, playground equipment and landscaping.
As of press time, $37,336 has been raised from 15 patrons.
Donations may be delivered to town hall, 101 N. Central Ave., or mailed to Town of Milton, P.O. Box 398, Milton, IN 47357, noting it’s for the park. Gifts also may be made at wwn.to/miltonplayground.
For more information, call 765-478-3818.
Successful fundraising campaigns have already concluded in Economy and Pershing.
A version of this article appeared in the May 1 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.