The Porter County Park Board agreed Thursday to proceed with a master plan for one of its latest park acquisitions, the 67-acre parcel on Meridian Road known as the Michaels property.

The park board directed Superintendent Ed Melendez to seek requests for proposals from planning firms to draw up the master plan, with the stipulation that the planning process will involve public input.

County Park Board President Rich Hudson said getting the plan in place was one of the goals set at a park board retreat last weekend. He noted that the park board is paying for the property in phases and that by the time the land is owned in full next year, the master plan will be in place.

The park board agreed last year to purchase the property, which is bounded on the south by the CSX railroad tracks, on the west by C.R. 50W and on the east by Meridian Road. The acquisition is taking place over three years, at a total purchase price of $889,000.

The park board also heard an overview of the retreat from the retreat coordinator, Stu Summers. Among the various topics at the retreat, the consensus was that future park acquisitions need to follow the park’s master plan and that communications with the Northern Indiana Historical Power Association over its annual lease needs to be strengthened.

Also Thursday, Paula Ramos, supervisor of operations at the Brincka Cross Home and Gardens, gave a lengthy list of projects that have begun at the Pine Township park site as well as needed improvements.

Among the projects underway is a finish coat on exterior panels at the house that were part of the former Marshall Field’s “trend house” in Chicago. Ramos noted that preserving these panels will help preserve a piece of history.

Ramos said a great deal of work is needed at the park, citing ripped-off roof shingles, loose barn siding and a host of fallen trees and branches blocking pathways.

“This winter was really hard on Brincka Cross,” she said.

Ramos expressed strong concern about the failing condition of the barn’s roof. The board directed its construction committee to review the roofing needs.

Ramos also reported on a visit she and other park staffers made to the Field Museum of Chicago, where they met with museum staff and finalized plans for a retreat at Brincka Cross. She also announced that she is taking a road trip later in March to county parks in western United States to get ideas for Brincka Cross; she is paying for the trip herself.

In another matter involving Brincka Cross, Melendez gave the park board information on establishing an endowment account with the Porter County Community Foundation specifically for Brincka Cross.

Park Recreation Supervisor Gayle O’Connor told the park board that she and park naturalist Eric Dlutkowski are working on a revamped summer camp series at Sunset Hill Farm. She said the overhauled program will involve fewer indoor projects and more activities outdoors.

“I want the kids to get dirty ... get wet and have fun,” she said of the hands-on outdoor learning opportunities at the park.

She said the park department will hire three seasonal naturalists to help with the summer camp program.

O’Connor also noted that the park department’s school program known as Parks-to-School will be ending on April 30, and that the park’s outdoor season for school groups will be offered from May through October.