Volunteers, Kiwanis and scouts to lead Chenworth Bridge cleanup Aug. 1; property transfer to county expected

Ken, a guest at the June 11 Kosciusko County Parks Department and Recreation Board meeting, said the county will host a volunteer cleanup at Chenworth Bridge Park on Saturday, Aug. 1, from about 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and that the Kiwanis Club and local scouts are being invited to participate.

The plan, Ken said, centers on trash pickup and basic trail maintenance at the Kiwanis shelter end of the park; he also asked the board for ideas about other work items, such as painting the bridge or focused invasive-plant removal. "We're going to see if we can get some scouting folks out there," Ken said, and he offered to coordinate with board members and volunteers on tasks.

Board members praised past work by Friends of the Trails and volunteers organized by Steve Foley and encouraged the guest to coordinate with Kiwanis and scout leaders so volunteers can be assigned roles. A board member noted that the trail section that runs toward old U.S. 30 often accumulates roadside trash and could be added to the cleanup depending on volunteer capacity.

The board also discussed placing benches at Oakwood Cemetery; potential bench models discussed included a metal bench with a protective coating in the $350–$400 range. Members agreed to follow existing park bench guidelines and to coordinate purchases so benches match other park furnishings.

Separately, the board was told that the formal deed transfer for the Chenworth Bridge property will be finalized at an upcoming county commissioners meeting (reported as scheduled for the 16th). The group said the previous approval steps had been completed and the transfer is expected to make the county ownership official; board members did not plan a formal presentation but said they might attend if they wish.

The board encouraged volunteer outreach and agreed that citizens are welcome at the Aug. 1 cleanup; Ken said he would prepare a news release so attendees know where to gather and what tasks will be available. The group also discussed coordinating with maintenance staff on August work-day priorities.

The board closed the topic by agreeing to continue planning and to bring updates to the next meeting.