Published: September 18, 2009 10:54 pm      

Struggling to survive

Council appropriation kept France Park running

The 515 acres of France Park offer premier camping sites and recreational opportunities in a rural setting.

Few counties in the state can offer their residents anything that Cass County can with the former stone quarry on U.S. 24 West.

Yet, the 2009 season nearly ended prematurely at France Park. Despite raising its admission charge and fees for other services, the park board was forced to turn to the Cass County Council for additional appropriations to alleviate its financial burdens.

A lack of funding from the state tax levy led to much of the park’s problems.

While struggle for funding for France Park is expected to continue in the future, town parks in Galveston, Royal Center and Walton offer their children playgrounds and room to run and residents a place to relax and gather.





Parks & Recreation

Fighting to survive in a time of shrinking budgets

A four-part series:

Thursday: Four surrounding cities provide a wide range of activities for people to enjoy — lakes, an amusement park, museums and a simple town park.

Friday: Two state-run facilities, Tippecanoe State Park and Mississinewa Lake, provide a number of outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, boating and swimming. In addition, the Logansport area also provides walking and cycling enthusiasts with a number of trails.

Today: A former stone quarry, France Park has become a destination for people looking for a number of recreational opportunities. Yet, the 515-acre gem’s outlook is clouded by funding issues. Parks in the county’s small towns have seen numerous improvements within the last few years to bring more opportunities to local townspeople.

Sunday: Property tax reform has made planning for the Logansport Parks Department a venture in crystal ball reading. While the department has the opportunity to develop a brand new park from the ground up, the question of funding has slowed development of Huston Park and funding problems have put the Ben Long Community Center on the city’s list of surplus property. For parks administrator Jan Fawley, however, keeping Tower Park Pool open is not only a matter of providing summer refreshment but a safety issue as well.