Life in the Park is a Picnic.

Join your neighbors for the Kirkwood Park Fall Picnic! Meet new neighbors and visit with old friends as we enjoy dinner together in Lions Park. This year's Fall Picnic is Sunday, Sept. 27th at 5:30 p.m. in Lions Park Pavilion. The Board will provide the main dish and beverages. Each family attending should bring a side dish to share, along with their own plates and tableware.

In addition, the evening will feature an ice cream social. The ice cream and toppings will be provided thanks to our neighbor, Mary Ellen Kellogg. Mary Ellen recently won the Edy’s Slow-Churned Neighborhood Salute — a contest that celebrates great neighborhoods across America. Her winning essay from July 2009, which explains many of the reasons why we all love living in Kirkwood Park follows:

We live in an older neighborhood that represents all walks of life from seniors to babies. People watch out for others, helping when they can. It’s always great to be welcomed by our gorgeous big ol’ trees when driving in from work on the worst of days and then being able to walk our neighborhood and see old and new friends, sharing stories of the winter survival. What’s really neat is the fact that we have so many children coming back to live in Kirkwood Park once they’ve grown up because they like the addition so much. We knew when we moved in 17 years ago it was a great place to raise our boys — safe, friendly, fun, and a gorgeous environment. It’s not new, shiny, or the latest in fashion, but it fits like an old comfortable pair of jeans. Everyone tries the best they can to care for their place and help their neighbors as well! Everyone would love this opportunity you are offering. Thanks!

Make it a great day,

Mary Ellen Kellogg

Garage Sale update

The neighborhood garage sale will be held Saturday, September 19 from 8 am – 3 pm.

During this time, we encourage you to participate in our neighborhood-wide sale. Ads and signs will be placed to promote the event, and we encourage you to clean out the back of those closets and make a few extra dollars along side your neighbors.

Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure!

Hot dog!

From Karen Goldner:

With the cool weather we are having now it is hard to think of the "dog days" of summer. But that isn't the only kind of dog day: Shoaff Park will host the Northeastern Indiana Kennel Club's Responsible Dog Ownership Day on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Information on various breeds, safety around dogs, and lots of information from groups and businesses that serve dogs and their people will be available. Bring your dog (on a leash) and come out!

More information is available here: http://www.neikc.org/

And remember the 2nd District Community Meeting will be this Wednesday, September 2, 7 p.m. at Shoaff Park Riverlodge. Our guest speaker will be Mark GiaQuinta, President of the Fort Wayne Community Schools Board of Trustees.

2009 Kirkwood Park Garden Walk

Join your neighbors for an Ice Cream Social/Garden Walk on Sunday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. The evening will begin with an Ice Cream Social at the home of Judy Wagoner.

Immediately after ice cream, the Garden Walk will begin. Some of the homes included on the tour include Kim and Patty Tisland, Phil and Joy Hudson, Tom and Jeane Wagner, Jerry and Diane Burch, Paul Sust and Heather Acero, Charlene and Bob Schrader, and Joni Weber. And if the weather’s not great, so what? Don’t let a little rain stop you from dropping by. Judy has offered her garage and summerhouse to use as back up.

If you’re interested in participating, please contact Judy at judithwagoner@hotmail.com.

What a great way to spend a summer evening!

Money may not grow on trees, but trees can grow for only $35!

From the Parks Department:

May 28, 2009

Contact: Natalie Eggeman (260-427-6028)
Chad Tinkel (260-427-5203)

One Month Left to Order Street Trees

Fort Wayne, IN: June 30th is the last day residents can apply for a street tree, which the City would plant adjacent to their property, on the street right of way this fall.

The street tree program has been offered annually for more than 15 years. Trees are offered at $35 on a first-come, first-served basis. This year, the City hopes to plant up to 1000 trees through this program, depending upon the species that are planted, and the funding available.

Neighborhood organizations are encouraged to spread the word and can work with program staff to plant in multiple locations. Also, the $35 fee per tree may be waived for applicants whose incomes fall below certain limits.

“It’s important to us to continue our tradition of being a green city, here in Fort Wayne,” said Chad Tinkel, Parks and Recreation Manager of Forestry Operations. “Planting trees is great for the environment and providing trees with sturdy branches that are resistant to storm damage ensures the community can enjoy them for a long time.”

One tree alone can absorb more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, helping Fort Wayne achieve EPA air quality standards. Trees absorb rainfall, helping reduce the release of sewage into the rivers in heavy rains.
Studies show how shade trees reduce energy consumption in summer by reducing air conditioning loads.

Street trees cool the streets and neighborhoods with their shade and studies have shown that trees increase property value in well planted neighborhoods.

Residents can download an application from www.fortwayneparks.org home page, or call 427-6400 to have an application mailed to them.

Some trees are better than others for planting along streets. They’re considered “good neighbor” trees with deep root systems that aren’t considered invasive to sewer systems. These strong, disease-resistant trees include various Maple, Oak, Honey Locust, Gingko, Linden, and Plane varieties, among others, listed on the application.

For more information about street trees and the benefits of trees, visit www.fortwayneparks.org, click on Parks Maintenance then choose the street trees link.

Info from Karen Goldner

On Monday at the 2nd District Community Meeting, someone asked me to send out the TinCaps website, where you can buy tickets to see our team play at Parkview Field. The site is http://tincaps.com/, and if you haven't been to a game you should go check it out.

Many people ask me about the impact of federal stimulus money in Fort Wayne. I will summarize by saying that the amount we are getting is, in a word, underwhelming. However, you can get more specific information at the next Community Services Council (CSC) Special Public Forum which will be held Thursday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (Room 126/128 of the City County Building, One Main Street). Speakers will include representatives from various city departments including Public Works, Community Development, City Utilities, Energy and Public Safety. In addition to direct funding to the City of Fort Wayne, there will be information presented on funding for Citilink, schools and non-profit organizations.

RSVP is not required, but if you'd like additional information on the meeting you can contact Denise Porter-Ross, denise.porter-ross@cityoffortwayne.org.

High Speed Rail in Fort Wayne?

If you attended the annual meeting, you heard our 2nd District Councilperson, Karen Goldner, advocate for the return of passenger rail service to Fort Wayne. According to the Downtown Improvement District's counts, more than 800 people attended the recent "Rally for Rail", held at the Baker Street Station.

A group has formed to help advance this important cause. The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association (NIPRA), is part of the Invent Tomorrow Initiative. They are the folks responsible for the Rally for Rail. They have a web site, http://nipra2rail.wordpress.com, where you can find updated information, and links to e-mail addresses and contact info for the Governor and our legislators.

It's especially important that we take a moment and contact the Governor. President Obama has put money aside in the stimulus bill for the expansion of high-speed rail. We need to make sure that Fort Wayne is part of that plan.