By VICKI URBANIK

One of Porter County’s newest county park sites, the Brincka-Cross Gardens in Furnessville, isn’t set to open until 2009, but plans are underway to hire staff and create a master plan for the unique parcel.

At Thursday’s Porter County Park Board meeting, Park Superintendent Ed Melendez presented a proposal for retaining the Lehman & Lehman consulting firm to prepare a master plan for the new park, located south of U.S. 20 on Furnessville Road.

The consultants would conduct on-site visits, prepare a budget for the new park, inventory the plant life, and prepare programming possibilities, among other duties. The master plan would also involve public input meetings, probably in April and June, Melendez said.

Melendez said the park department wants to take great care to properly manage the new 25-acre park site, which, because of its unique plant offerings, is expected to become a top-notch tourist attraction and provide educational experiences for students at all levels.

“We want to make sure we do it right and have a plan set for it,” he said.

In addition to a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house, the property has a five-acre botanical garden consisting of rare and diverse plant life, including 187 magnolias, 87 varieties of hostas, and a “tickle” garden composed of tall grasses. The park department acquired the property earlier this year.

Melendez said the Lehman consultants are scheduled to attend the January board meeting, at which time the board might approve the planning contract. The work is expected to cost about $66,000.

At the same time, Melendez said he hopes to have two new employees who will work mainly at the arboretum hired by the end of January. It will be important to have the two staffers on board during the planning process, he said.

The Porter County Council, during budget hearings this year, granted the funding for the parks department to hire three new full-time employees in 2008, two of whom for the new arboretum.

The name of the new park has not been determined yet, but Melendez said it will probably be the Brincka-Cross Gardens, in honor of the arboretum’s late property owners.

In another matter Thursday, park board member Rich Hudson read a resolution commending board president Harold Erwin, who is not seeking reappointment to the board after numerous years of service. The county council will appoint his replacement.

Erwin said although he will not be on the board, he’ll continue to be active in park matters. He commended the park department staff as excellent and said they have helped make the department one of the best park systems in the region.

Also Thursday, the board approved a 2008 legal services contract with attorney Dave Hollenbeck, who has been the board’s attorney for an estimated 23 years. Hollenbeck thanked the board. “These are exciting times in Porter County, and you are part of it,” he said.

Also, Northern Indiana Historical Power Association President Fred Armstrong announced that in addition to its annual antique power show, NIHPA is planning another event at Sunset Hill Farm County Park: an antique tractor pull. The one-day event will likely be in early June, he said.

The park board also approved the annual lease with NIHPA, allowing the organization use of Sunset Hill Farm for farming and its annual show, in exchange for $1.

Also, Melendez announced that annual Santa visit at Sunset Hill Farm will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 15. The event was originally scheduled for last Saturday but was rescheduled due to the weather. The holiday light displays will also be on during the Santa event. The light display is currently offered on weekends and will be on every day from Dec. 21 to 25.

Because of scheduling matters, the park board will reschedule its Jan. 3 meeting. The date of the board meeting has not yet been finalized.

Posted 12/7/2007