With summer approaching, the Beech Grove Parks Board convened this week to review park maintenance efforts and outline a packed slate of community events set for the coming months. The meeting began with members returning from a tour of city park properties and featured updates from Parks Director Tom Hannan and Hornet Park Community Center Director Tiffani Flick. It also included a discussion on summer events, infrastructure projects and a proposal to alter Beech Grove policy on alcohol. Currently, alcohol is banned at city parks (Photo Credit: Samantha Bokori).
Community Engagement on the Rise
Flick reported that events at the Hornet Park Community Center are seeing increased participation. A visit from Thy Kingdom Crumb last month led to the distribution of more than 220 meals, and the Hornet Park Pantry now sees between 100 and 120 families every Wednesday.
Two recent events, Going Green in the Grove and the Bunny Trail Hop, proved especially popular. Flick noted that approximately 300 attendees visited the Bunny Trail, many of them exploring that portion of the park for the first time.
“The feedback we got [was] that they loved that event more than they loved the breakfast event,” she said.
“It’s my favorite event that we do every year, and it was excellent this year,” Board Secretary Autumn James added.
Big Summer Events Ahead
Planning is underway for Touch-a-Truck, scheduled for May 31 from noon to 2 p.m. at the community center. The free family-friendly event will feature a petting zoo, trackless train, giveaways, and over 20 participating organizations.
“People are finding us at this point,” Flick said, noting that several groups had reached out to join after seeing promotional materials.
The annual Fun Lunch program will return to Don Challis Park, running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with meals served from 11 to noon and activities to follow. Flick clarified that although the “Sun Bucks” stipend program has ended, free summer meals remain available throughout the city. She also announced that the center received an Indiana Members Credit Union grant to support the program:
[RELATED: Beech Grove continues program offering free summer meals for kids]
“That means that we can do a couple of extra fun things that we wouldn’t have been able to do due to budgetary restraints,” she said.
The Summer Concert Series will return with expanded vendor offerings and a reconfigured layout to accommodate growth. The kids zone will be relocated to make room for more food and informational booths. Confirmed food vendors include Papakura, Rustic Root Tea Room and Pronto Tacos. Additional participants such as Beech Grove Little League and Greek’s Pizzeria will operate tents alongside community partners like Humana and the Beech Grove Parks Foundation.
Park Upkeep and Projects Continue
Parks Director Tom Hannan provided an update on daily operations, noting that baseball activity is ongoing six days a week and that maintenance crews are mowing up to three times weekly.
“Picnics are in full swing already,” Hannan said.
Crews have also completed landscaping at Don Challis Park and are improving areas near the trailheads.
A creek bank restoration project is slated to begin May 27, with the goal of completing it before the Fourth of July.
Hannan also shared that the state requires a final site plan before construction can begin on a planned pavilion, and that document should be submitted soon.
Policy and Programming Notes
Board president Tara Wolf announced that the Beech Grove Farmers Market will begin June 3 on the Franciscan property at 17th and Buffalo streets.
She also reported progress on a potential change to Beech Grove’s alcohol policy, saying that suggested proposal could come before the Beech Grove Common Council in June.
“We will need all hands on deck,” she said, encouraging board members to attend.
It is unclear exactly what the proposed change could look like, but current Beech Grove ordinances ban any possession of alcohol at city parks.
“It shall be unlawful for any person to be intoxicated or be under the influence or effect of narcotics, or to use alcohol or narcotics in any park, playground, community building, or other premises or places under the jurisdiction or control of the Department of Parks and Recreation… The consumption or possession of alcohol in any park is prohibited,” city ordinances say.