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2015 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
PARKS, ARTS, RECREATION AND CULTURE (PARC) COMMITTEE
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Date: November 24, 2015
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Council Member Dr. Fred Ferlic, PARC Committee Chairperson
Introduction:
2015 has been my rd year to serve as the Chairperson of the South Bend Common Council's Parks, Arts,
Recreation & Culture (PARC) Committee, and what an exciting year it has been. The pictures displayed
above depict just some of the wonderful venues and opportunities offered to the public to enjoy in our great
City.
This Annual Report of the PARC Committee, required by the City Code [§ 2-10 (i) ] highlights just some
of the wide variety of activities which took place this calendar year. The PARC Committee "oversees
activities of the Century Center, the Morris, Potawatomi Zoo, and the many other recreational activities
offered by the Parks Department".
As PARC Committee Chairperson, as I did last year, I attempted to attend as many of the Board of Park
Commissioner meetings, so I could develop a good working relationship and have a better understanding
of some of the day-to-day challenges which the Park and Recreation Department has on their limited budget.
This year's Committee members included:
LuElla Webster, Citizen Member Council Member Derek Dieter,Vice-Chairperson
Larry Clifford, Citizen Member Council Member Henry Davis, Jr., Member
Council Member Dr. David Varner,
and myself as Chairperson.
2015 Annual Report of the PARC Committee
Page 2
A total of seven (7) PARC Committee meetings were held this year, with some of the topics discussed and
reviewed being:
• Continued discussions of the priorities set forth in the five (5) year Park Plan governing the City's
57 parks and many other Park activities
• Receiving updates on the public/private partnership between the City and the Zoological Society on
the operations of the Potawatomi Zoo- the oldest zoo in the state of Indiana which was established
in 1902
• Receiving updates on the neighborhoods efforts to revitalize Kelly Park in the NNE part of the City
of South Bend
• Developing for the first time a PARC Committee brochure which highlights some of the many park,
recreational and cultural offerings in the City of South Bend
• Discussions on Dr. Varner's recommendation that tax increment funds (TIF) dollars should be
considered as a funding mechanism beyond park bond dollars
• Discussion of the City's policy on the planting and removal of trees in the tree lawn
• Discussions and approval of the guaranteed energy conservation contract resulting in energy costs
savings for the Century Center operations
• Developing and encouraging more public/private partnerships for many of the smaller neighborhood
parks
The City of South Bend has an excellent park and recreation program, and we are fortunate to have very
dedicated men and women working for the City to provide these venues for residents and visitors. I thank
you for the opportunity to serve as the Council's PARC Committee Chairperson in 2014 and 2015.
Thank you.
Respectfully submitted,
Council Member Dr. Fred Ferlic
PARC Committee Chairperson