By VICKI URBANIK

The Porter County Park Board’s proposed acquisition of approximately 67 acres on Meridian Road in Liberty Township is moving forward.

Park Board attorney Dave Hollenbeck announced at Thursday’s board meeting that the property owners, the Michaels, have signed the purchase agreement as proposed last month. The park board itself has agreed to proceed and anticipates a closing expected by the board’s August meeting, said Park Superintendent Ed Melendez.

Last month, the park board agreed to make an offer 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 planned to take place over three years, at a total purchase price of $889,000.

After Thursday’s park board meeting, Melendez addressed a concern raised by real estate agent Robert Jacobs, who wrote a letter to the county commissioners with a concern that the park board was paying more than it should for the land. Jacob’s letter suggested that the purchase price came to $13,830 per acre, while his research showed that the market value of similar properties is around $5,605 an acre.

Melendez showed reporters the two appraisals received for the property, from Campbell & Associates and Steven Dattilo, both licensed appraisers. The appraisals were comparable and were the basis for the purchase price, he said.

The property is made up of several different parcels. The appraisals on three of the parcels ranged from $9,800 to $11,400. The parcel containing a house was appraised at $188,000.

Melendez said the appraisals took into account the fact that the property doesn’t just consist of farm land, but amenities such as a pond, maintenance building, and the residence.

In another matter at Thursday’s park board meeting, Paula Ramos, the director of the Brincka-Cross House & Gardens park in Furnessville, gave an update on the work underway.

Displaying large ivy vines that have been cut from some of the trees on site, Ramos said contrary to rumors that have been circulating, trees have not been damaged in the vine removal. She said crews have carefully removed the huge vines to prevent them from choking the trees. She expressed particular concern about removal of the vines on a tree next to the house, due to the liability issue involved if the tree should fall.

Ramos said volunteer crews, as well as hired contractors, have been busy trimming branches, pruning trees, removing dead tree limbs, setting a slate pathway and handling other landscaping tasks.

Ramos said she has heard comments that the county shouldn’t have purchased the 22-acre site. To the contrary, she called the acquisition “a steal.” She said that in addition to the diversity of plant life and gardens and a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home that was decades ahead of its time in design, the park is home to “some of the largest tulip trees in the state.”

Ramos said she is planning a “soft” opening this fall with small groups of park visitors, with a full public opening next spring. She also said the park will not be a formal arboretum or a botanical garden.

“We are going to be a people’s garden,” she said.

Also Thursday, Special Events Coordinator Judy Rooney Davis noted that registration is now underway for the upcoming Jr. Naturalists children's summer camp program. She also said many more runners than last year have pre-registered for the upcoming 5K race at Sunset Hill Farm County Park on June 19.

Posted 6/6/2008