The City of Gary has been chosen as the recipient of a 2014 Awards of Excellence Award from the Indiana Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). Marquette Park will be the featured honoree. IPRA will present the award to Gary Parks Superintendent Lori Latham and members of her team at a special awards banquet at the IPRA State Conference in Michigan City on January 15, 2014.
Located along the South Shore of Lake Michigan, Marquette Park is one of Northwest Indiana’s most admired and historic regional parks. The City of Gary, in collaboration with Hitchcock Design Group, pursued and secured a $28 million Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority grant to identify critical capital and operational improvements. After significant public involvement, a master plan was developed that identified initiatives that would enhance access and circulation within the 241-acre park, while also preserving and strengthening its natural features. Implementation of the master plan involved restoration of the historic structures within the park and the addition of new recreational amenities such as walking paths, a special events area, a lakefront promenade, playground and a small boat launch to enhance user enjoyment.
“Marquette Park is one of Gary’s greatest assets,” said Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. “We are humbled to receive this honor and invite residents and visitors to come enjoy the wonderful amenities that our park offers.”
Each year, IPRA Awards of Excellence are presented to individuals and agencies across Indiana to honor their efforts - both personally and professionally in the field of Parks and Recreation. Winners are evaluated by their peers in the industry based upon a scoring system for quality of the project, impact on the community, creative solutions as well as other criteria.
For more information on the IPRA and the Awards of Excellence program, please contact the IPRA Office at 317-573-4035 or lnyeford@inpra.org. Visit www.inpra.org for general information.
The Indiana Park and Recreation Association founded 1916 is a state not-for-profit membership association dedicated to advancing the value of parks and recreation and those that provide it. Through its network of recreation and park professionals, corporations, elected officials and organizations, IPRA encourages the promotion of health and wellness, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.