Van Buren Looks to Finalize Community Center Plans

After four years of work, Van Buren County is applying for an $80,000 Healthy Environment grant to put the final touches on its community centers.

The Van Buren County Commission approved applying for the grant at Tuesday night’s commissioner meeting.

Van Buren County Mayor Greg Wilson said the grant would be used for building picnic pavilions and setting up park benches on the walking tracks. Wilson said there are five community centers being looked at to get people out, while staying close to home.

“That way we get people out, we get them and they don’t have to leave their community center or their community to find a picnic area,” Wilson said. “They can go right there and it’s close to home and it’s something they can just go out and in very few minutes and be at their community center.”

Wilson said the areas the county is looking at are Cummingsville, Fall Creek Falls, Cedar Grove, Rocky River and Piney Community Centers. If approved, Wilson said the pavilions and benches are the final steps on his four year plan to upgrade community centers.

“This one is the last part of what our plans were,” Wilson said. ” For the community center walking tracks, recreation areas, was putting the picnic tables, park benches and the pavilions at each one of those.”

Previously, nine walking tracks, playground equipment and water bottle filling stations were added to community centers. Wilson said the potential additions will go hand in hand with prior additions.

“If a family wants to while they come to the community centers and enjoy the little park that’s there,” Wilson said. “Their kids may be playing, they can have a cookout, picnic, that type of thing or they can just sit there and watch their children play.”

Wilson said if Van Buren County is approved the projects would be for fiscal year 2021-2022.