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There is no county park-recreation board or department, but the Bluffton Parks & Recreation Department operations include various facilities that are available for use of people outside the city as well as within Bluffton. The Bluffton Parks & Recreation Department has a property tax rate from which Bluffton taxpayers fund the needs, although there are some revenues for part of the costs in the form of swimming pool admissions fees and some special program charges.
Also, Ossian has a park board and facilities, and other towns and localities of Wells County have community-type parks.
BLUFFTON PARKS & RECREATION
Pam Vanderkolk is the Bluffton Park & Recreation Director. The phone number for this office in City Hall, 128 East Market St., is 824-6069.
The following parks and facilities are in the Bluffton Parks system:
Angel of Hope Park, at the corner of Bennett and Wabash streets, is a place for anyone who has lost loved ones to remember them. This setting provides a soothing sound of the water and a view of the beautiful Wabash River. The park includes brick walkways and several benches for those wishing to enjoy the park and remember their loved ones.
Jefferson Park is approximately 2.1 acres in size, located in the southeast portion of Bluffton off Townley and Bennett streets. Facilities include a playground, the T-Ball diamond, the Junior League baseball diamond, a batting cage, a press box, and a concession stand/restrooms building. The Junior League is for 10- and 11 year-olds in the boys’ program, although at times there has been a girl participant. T-Ball is for ages 6, 7 and 8, boys and girls.
Kehoe Park is about 2 acres in size and located along the Wabash River, just west of the Ind. 1-Ind. 124 north junction. Facilities include a lighted amphitheater (outdoor theatre), a pavilion (gazebo) with picnic tables, and a building for restrooms. This is the site of the summer concert series sponsored by the Creative Arts Council.
Lions Park contains approximately 5.5 acres in the west central part of Bluffton, off Midway and Washington streets. Facilities include a playground, a pavilion with picnic tables and grill, a mini-soccer field, two lighted basketball courts, three lighted tennis courts, restrooms, a maintenance office building with storage, a T-Ball diamond, a lighted softball diamond, and a concession stand. Church, men’s and co-ed softball leagues use the softball field at Lions Park, which used to be Wilson Field through the years that it was the football field for the high school. The T-Ball League (ages 6, 7 and 8, boys and girls) uses the T-Ball diamond.
Pickett's Run is at the intersection of Wayne and East Washington streets. The park has paved paths, picnic tables, benches, wood carvings and a history marker. The park gets its name from the stream that once ran through the site. This is the former location of 17 homes that were damaged in the July 2003 flood and had to be destroyed. Across the street from the park, at the corner of East Washington and Bennett streets, is the new splash pad spray park and the life fitness trail.
Rotary Park is a small park that is part of the Rivergreenway corridor off the River Road along the Wabash River in the east part of Bluffton. Facilities include a pavilion with picnic tables, a paved parking lot and access to the Rivergreenway.
The Rivergreenway is a paved walking and bicycling trail starting at the east end of East Wabash Street, in the heart of Bluffton, and then running southeast on the banks of the Wabash River on River Road to the White Bridge, a distance of 2 1/4 miles. The state has extended the trail eastward from the bridge, connecting it into the Ouabache State Park, where it links into an extensive park trail. The total trail from Bluffton to and through much of the state park is close to 5 miles. Future plans are to continue the Rivergreenway westward to Markle. Rivergreenway = features include a boating access site in the east end of the trail near the White Bridge, a replica historic covered bridge and designated parking lots along the trail. No horses or motorized vehicles are allowed on the Rivergreenway.
Roush Park, at 925 W. Silver St., is an eight-acre park located in the southwest part of Bluffton off the Indiana Street-Clark Avenue intersection. Facilities include playground equipment, two lighted baseball diamonds, two lighted softball diamonds, picnic areas, two pavilions (a small one with picnic tables and a larger one used for roller hockey), restroom facilities, a storage building, press boxes at the ball diamonds, batting cages, two concession stands, and two basketball courts. The Farm League, for 9- and 10-year-old boys, and the Teen League, for 13- and 14-year-old boys, use the two baseball diamonds. The Junior Girls League, for ages 9-12, and Senior Girls League, for ages 13-16, use the two softball diamonds. There is also a women’s slow-pitch league for women 18 years of age and older.
Veterans Memorial Park is in the southeast part of Bluffton at the corner of Main and Arnold Streets. This park features memorial gardens, walkways, a gazebo and park benches. It is the scene of official tributes to those who have served in the nation’s defense.
Washington Park is approximately 2.6 acres in size in the southeast part of Bluffton, off of Ohio, Mulberry, Arnold and Bennett streets. Facilities include playground equipment, two 8-foot basketball goals and two lighted 10-foot basketball goals, restroom facilities, two lighted pavilions with picnic tables (one enclosed pavilion and one open, both are available for rentals), a volleyball grass court, two shuffleboard courts, and picnic areas with grills. New tennis courts will be located across from Washington Park on Mulberry Street.
Wabash River Park is located at the beginning ((225 E. Wabash Street) of the Rivergreenway Trail Corridor and is about 1/2-acre in size. Facilities included are picnic tables, benches and a gazebo. Located just west of the park is a covered pavilion with picnic tables.
Reforestation - Wetlands Project - currently about 40,000 native tree and shrub seedlings have been planted on 90 acres of farmland on the east side of Bluffton, upstream on the north side of the Wabash River. About 2 1/2 miles of trails currently exist through the native grasses, shrubs and trees that are establishing a native community and restoring a wetlands area on this former flood plain farmland. These and future trails will be groomed for both foot and mountain bike usage. The possibility of adding a Nature area will be explored after the reforestation-wetland area has been completed.
Lancaster Park, 200 E. Jackson St., is located in the north portion of the Bluffton off of Ind. 1 and includes approximately 17.5 acres. This park includes a two-story log cabin, a pole barn, parking lot, play equipment, soccer field and open space. This park now offers a remote control track. A sledding hill is also in place.
Parks and Pavilions may be rented by contacting the City Clerk Treasurer's at 824-0612
RECREATION FACILITIES
Bluffton City Gym is located in the City Hall building behind the City Hall offices. Facilities include a basketball court and volleyball court with scoreboard, racquetball court, weight lifting room, restroom facilities, shower rooms and saunas. The recreation program is year around under the Bluffton Parks & Recreation Department. Memberships available.
Park & Recreation Winter Programs
BASKETBALL LEAGUES: Industrial, Sundays 12 noon to 5 p.m.; Church Leagues, Tuesdays, 5:30-10:30 p.m.; Youth/Boys League, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (grades 5th-8th), program runs from Jan.-March; Youth/Girls League, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., (grades 3rd-6th), program runs from Oct.-December;
TODDLER TUESDAYS every Tuesday Oct.-April. The gym will be open for tots to play from 10 to 11 a.m. Free.
Wednesday Walkers every Wednesday from Oct.-April the Gym floor will be available to walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Free.
COED PEEWEE BASKETBALL- for girls and boys grades K-4. Program runs Aug.-Oct. Registration in mid-July.
VOLLEYBALL LEAGUES: Adult-Co-ed Competitive League: Mondays 6-10 p.m., program runs Nov-Jan. For ages 18 years and up.
GYMNASTICS PROGRAMS: For ages 3 years - 6 grade boys & girls. Limited enrollment. Program runs March - April. Registration is last Saturday in January at city hall from 9:00 - 10:30 .a.m.
ADULT BADMINTON LEAGUE: A new program in 2006. Adults ages 16 years and older held on Thursdays from 7:00 - 9 p.m. in the city gym. One time fee of $5 per person. October - February.
OPEN GYM: October-April -- School-age children supervised gym activities 7 days a week. 4 p.m. (time varies). Schedules available. Gym available for rentals.
Gym-- Spring Activities
INDOOR CO-ED YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE: Grades K-1 and Grades 2-3 -- Played April-May. Registration first Saturday in March.
SUMMER PROGRAM
Summer Recreation normally begins the first full week in June. Programs offered are Swimming Lessons, Tennis Lessons, Gymnastics lessons and a variety of camps.
Many other special events-programs are offered throughout the year. Check the News-Banner; call 824-6069 for information; or log onto blufftonindiana.net.
WELLS COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL
The property is about 3.1 acres in size, located at 203 W. Spring St. It has a six-lane 50-meter outdoor swimming pool, gas heated, with a 1-meter diving board, a small tube slide, and a new 150-foot open flume triple-loop waterslide, plus a wading pool, concession stand area, restrooms, shower facilities, a sun deck around the pool, playground, and a pavilion with picnic tables and grill. The pool and pavilion area is open for rentals. The Wells Community Swimming Pool is managed and operated by the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department. It opens Memorial Day weekend and closes in late August. It is available for private rentals. Phone: 824-1550.
SWIM LESSONS — Offered during the pool season. Limited enrollment.
OTHER SWIMMING FACILITIES
Ouabache State Park Swimming Pool, as listed in the information elsewhere on Ouabache State Park, and the Markle Swimming Pool, as listed in the separate material about the town of Markle. These are both outdoor pools.
In addition, both the Bluffton-Harrison Middle School and Norwell High School have indoor swimming pools which have public programs in addition to their regular school uses. Information can be obtained from the schools or in weekly information in the Bluffton News-Banner
BOWLING
The Bowling Center, 1231 S. Scott St., Bluffton, phone 824-9966, is an all-modern 22-lane facility offering league bowling for youths, men, and women. It also offers open bowling and special party arrangements. It also has a snack shop.
GOLF COURSES
Green Valley Golf Club, 2635E County Road 150N, Bluffton, 824-4510. Public course.
Timber Ridge Golf Course, 2330E 250N, Bluffton, 824-2728. 18-hole course, watered fairways. Public course.