Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
WEST BADEN SPRINGS – Visitors this spring to the West Baden Springs Park are discovering a park that has been greatly improved and expanded.
A new walking trail, concession stand, playground, restrooms and handicap-accessible walkway are some of the new features.
The park improvements were funded in part through a $247,000 Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 1.0 grant awarded by the Indiana Uplands READI steering committee and Regional Opportunity Initiatives. The effort also received financial support from Duke Energy (a $2,000 grant for benches and trees), Orange County Community Foundation, Orange County Economic Development Partnership, the Town of West Baden and the Citizens for Park Improvement, which held several fundraisers. French Lick Resort engineer Justin Harris consulted on the project.
“It was long overdue. In one year, the change in the park is like night and day,” said John Carnes, a member of the West Baden Springs Town Council. “I talked to a guy the other day and he hadn’t been here in a year and he couldn’t believe the difference.”
In addition to those park improvements, which were initiated by the Citizens for Park Improvement group, the Town of West Baden Springs constructed three pickleball courts and one tennis court. And they’re not done. In the coming weeks, work will begin on a new splash pad.
Carnes said the town has wanted to add a splash pad for several years.
“We wanted to offer a little more for kids,” Carnes said. “They had been using the fountain in French Lick to splash in, but it’s not really designed for that.”
The new splash pad will be installed on the south end of the park where the tennis courts used to be. It will have several water features and a recirculating water system. The project cost is about $500,000 and will be paid for with town funds. Land Improvement Solutions, a French Lick company, will install the splash pad.
Carnes said if construction stays on schedule, the splash pad would be finished in mid- to late June.
“For our size community, it’s a pretty good sized one,” Carnes said.
With warmer weather bringing people back outdoors, Carnes said the park is seeing more activity. Other park upgrades include remodeling the restrooms in the original facility, expanded parking near the new playground and new dugouts on Field 3.
“The READI grant was a huge momentum boost to a movement that was already in the works – it allowed the Town’s and Citizens for Park Improvement’s vision to come to life so much more quickly,” said Skylar Whiteman, executive director of OCEDP. “I’m proud that OCEDP was able to be a small piece of the puzzle and can’t wait to see the community enjoying the park for years to come!”
No more ‘drab and outdated’ park
The impetus for the project began with a chance encounter Xoch Owen had one day prior to a youth baseball game.
“A child came up and said, ‘Am I in the right place?’ And my gut said, ‘What are we giving him?’ and that was the first time I really looked at the park and a voice said, ‘Move’ and I did,” she recalled.
She was determined to transform the “drab and outdated” park into a place where the community and visitors could enjoy. Improving access was also a goal.
The park’s hilly location had become an accessibility challenge. The original concession stand was at the top of a hill, requiring a steep climb to access from the lower fields and playground.
“There was no way for someone in a wheelchair to sit close to the baseball field,” Owen said. “With the new walkway, someone with mobility issues can access the field.”
The Citizens for Park Improvement group formed to fundraise and build community support. The Orange County Community Foundation and Orange County Economic Development Partnership also got involved.
Priorities were identified as well as funding sources. Owen said it wasn’t hard to generate community support.
“Everyone was outstanding,” she said. “No matter if it was painting or cleaning up, people jumped in.”
Owen said the improvements to the park went farther than she ever expected and she gave credit to the town for continuing to invest in the park.
“It makes a huge difference for the kids,” Owen said. “They need someplace to go, be proud of and enjoy going to.”
