Construction has
officially started on the new silo-themed program center at Sunset Hill Farm
County Park. The 700 square-foot building, which pays homage to the history
of Sunset Hill as a former farm, will provide space for additional
programming as well as venue rentals. The decision to construct the silo was
prompted by increases in program attendance and the need for a larger indoor
venue at the park.
Despite earlier
approval from both the Porter County Parks Foundation and the park
department’s board of directors, construction on the building was paused
over the summer because of the many park activities. “Now that summer camp
and our music festivals are over, it’s full steam ahead,” said Parks
Superintendent Walter Lenckos. “We also just received our final design
release from the state, so visitors will now see construction when they come
to the park.”
The Silo at Sunset
Hill has been a cooperative effort of not just the park board and park
foundation, but also elected officials, the Porter County Council, the
Porter County Commissioners, and numerous donors. The project’s building
committee, which meets every Wednesday, is comprised of Drew Armstrong,
chair and park board member; Dr. Larry McAfee, park animal committee member;
Mike Haller, building commissioner; David Nevill, foundation member; Owen
Brown, foundation member; Matt Brown, Parks horticulturist and property
manager; and Nichole Schaefer-Murray, Parks program director.
Thank you to donors
“We have to thank
our donors - they’re what really made this entire project possible. Because
of their generosity, the community can enjoy this new building and the
history of Sunset Hill Farm continues in a modern context,” said Lenckos.
Donors for the
project include Paul Von Tobel, Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc., Praxair, Enbridge,
Northern Indiana Historical Power Association, Cargill - Burns Harbor,
Valparaiso First Insurance, Tina Nevill, Mark and Annette Ritzi, James and
Sharon Kish, Chuck Hardesty, David and Barbara Ransom, Tom Sanders, Porter
County Parks Foundation, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Dr. Patrick
Bankston, Dr. Larry McAfee, Greg Ward and Swartz Retson, Wal-Mart, David
Hollenbeck, Porter County Community Foundation, Chester Inc., Anderson
Foundation, ArcelorMittal, and 1st Source Bank.
As to when
construction will be complete, Lenckos said the timeline is slated for just
before the park department’s annual Winter Lights festival in November. “If
we can have the building ready for Winter Lights, it will take that festival
to the next level, because we could utilize an indoor space for some of that
event.”
More information
about the Silo at Sunset Hill can be found on the Porter County Parks and
Recreation website at
www.portercountyparks.org/parks-projects.
The Wednesday
building committee meetings are held at 10 a.m. at the Porter County Parks
and Recreation offices at 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. The meetings are
open to the public.