Driving by the Abby and Libby Memorial Park site on the Heartland Highway one might not recognize a park being built or even much work being done. But, in the next few paragraphs, let us share the progress to date.
The non-profit status of the L&A Park Foundation was granted by the IRS Department on January 8, 2018. With the 20-acre parcel, donated by the State of Indiana and the Horn Family, the L&A Foundation, whose mission of build and maintain the park, has worked patiently with appreciation for in-kind support for any and all aspects of park construction, to advance the project as economically as possible.
The law firm of Miriam Robeson has provided a substantial amount of consulting and filings on behalf of the Foundation. Engineering and planning has been provided by RW Gross and Associates which aided in the application and granting of permits for site work to be started. Numerous contracting companies from the area stepped up to provide initial sitework which included the installation of the driveway, parking lot and some of the drainage work. Our thanks to Rieth-Riley Corporation, F&K Construction, Alliance Excavating & Demolition, Milestone Contractors, Fox Hauling and Miami Trucking for their in-kind services, materials and labor, an estimated value over $155,000 combined.
In May, the original design and set up of the Abby and Libby Memorial Park website was provided at no cost to the park by the Web Design Class of Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette and continues to be maintained by our organizational volunteers. Please visit abbyandlibbymemorialpark.org or LandApark.org for photos, updates, events and listings of the many supporters of the park project over the last year.
Business owners and individuals in their area have offered enormous support to the families of Libby and Abby, as well as financial contributions to the park projects. Countless volunteers have planned and held numerous fundraisers, including two different motorcycle rides, golf outings, two different softball tournaments and a motorcycle raffle (with motorcycle donated by Brandt’s Harley Davidson of Wabash and managed by Forty and Eight, Inc., Lafayette).
NIPSCO has provided funding for the walking trail initiative. In September, the capstone fundraising event, the Second Annual Celebration of Life, managed by Mark and Trish Mendel of Hometown Shirts and Graphics, included various local talents, generous donations, an online auction courtesy of Key Auctioneers, and culminated in a benefit music concert featuring Levi Riggs. The Delphi Lions Club also conducted a fundraising auction in November to benefit the park, as well as educational scholarships. Rounding out the year was the Second Field of Dreams Benefit held by the Kokomo County Palace.
Through a bottle cap campaign organized by Forty and Eight, Inc., six picnic tables and 14 park benches have been acquired and are ready to be located in their new home when the site is ready.
Playground equipment and outdoor musical instruments have been donated by AAA State of Play and NVB Playgrounds are in storage waiting for the site to be excavated and prepared for installation.
Obtaining large scale grants has been a struggle, as many require an organization to be in operation for two to three years to even be considered. The L&A Park Foundation Board is diligently seeking donations from Central Indiana businesses that can see the progress being made and want to invest in this destination park for the community of Delphi and the entire Carroll County area.
For questions or comments about the park, or to provide in-kind services, please use the “contact” feature found on the abbyandlibbymemorialpark.org.
Donations can be made directly to the L&A Park Foundation at 3348 West 500 North, Delphi, IN 46923, online at the Community Foundation of Carroll County at http://www.cfcarroll.org or donations can be dropped off at Security Federal Savings Bank in Delphi. Although you may remain anonymous, we would sincerely like the opportunity to acknowledge every contribution.