The Elwood Kiwanis Club recently sold their Kiwanis Park to the City of Elwood. The park is located on South G Street just west of 22nd street and was the pet project of Art Franklin. It has served the children of the area very well for about 50 years...give or take a few. Many of the people on the Den List played there as children and had it not been for that small neighborhood park, recreation would not have been as convenient for the families who have lived close to the park.

The Kiwanis Club has taken care of the upkeep and maintenance of this park during these many years but decided that the city would be better able to provide the services better. They also can include this park in the liability insurance that is carried for the city. Insurance becomes more important each year and the city already had the coverage in place. The park was sold to the city for $1.00 and the park will retain its
name...Elwood Kiwanis Park. I think Uncle Arthur would have been pleased with this move.

Many people in Elwood were not even aware that there was a Kiwanis Park since it was not listed with the other parks that belonged to the city. Now, there will be more publicity regarding the park and perhaps more children who will be able to play basketball and use the equipment that is already there.

During the Christmas Season, the Callaway Park, homes, churches and various businesses were decorated beautifully. It is obvious that a large amount of pride was present throughout the community. This is so nice to see. It is the people themselves who will ultimately make a difference in this small town. Committees can bring
ideas and sponsor programs...Park Ranger Dan can come up with the idea of decorating the park...but it is the community working on these ideas, programs and decorations that will make it all work. I am very proud of this community for working to help get the things done.

The new civic complex is soon to be filled and the hospital will be moving into the new addition as you read this. Both of the grade schools are undergoing intense growth and as the construction uptown winds down, the construction at the schools and in the new additions continues full steam ahead. These changes are very exciting and we can not wait to see it completed. The big sewer tiles and pipes for the change in Duck Creek at North Anderson and North F Streets have been stacked behind Willkie Park waiting for that work to be started. There will be a lot of inconvenience while the work on North Anderson Street is going on, but once it is finished and looking like South Anderson Street, the pride of the citizens of Elwood will grow even more.

When the planning for these things was being talked about and I told you what was going to be, I'm sure there were many skeptics out there. It did seem a little daring to tell you that Elwood would once again be the home town everyone would be proud of. Many of you who visited here returned home to write to the Den and tell us how much was being done and how great it all looked. That was before we were this far along in the revitalization of Elwood. With all of the new things that have been built and the new improvements that will be started this spring, you will be even more surprised as you come here for visits. For those who have not seen any of this yet...hang on to your britches...you will be totally blown away!

Five months until Denstock! Better start making your plans. You will certainly want to see all of the new improvements and visit with all the Den family that will be here in June.

All I can say is, we have been working constantly these past 5 or so years to make this special small town a place that all of you will take pride in calling...Elwood, My Old Home Town.
 

Your Old Home Town Reporter,
Sharon Benedict Hurst "53"
Elwood IN, Out on Fairground Road