Parks and Recreation Department
Middlebury, Indiana
The Town of Middlebury enjoys a diverse park system with many opportunities for relaxation and recreation both for our residents and visitors. The Parks and our recreational programs offer opportunities and activities for people of all ages, abilities and interest.
Parks
Krider "World’s Fair" Garden – Located on Bristol Street just west of the fire station and across the street from the Middlebury Historical Society Museum and adjacent to the Greenway Park.
Krider Garden is the crown jewel in the Middlebury Park system. It blends a wide variety of plants, shrubs, trees and waterfalls with area history. The gardens were originally designed by Krider Nurseries for display at the 1933/34 Chicago World’s Fair. Closely resembling the original design, these gardens have been restored for future generations to enjoy. Featured in the park are;
- Walking paths through the garden
- Mill house with water wheel
- Fountains and lily pond
- Reflecting pool
- Giant toadstools
- Pergola
- Dutch Windmill
- Double waterfalls and pools
- Picnic tables and benches
- Historical and informational signs
- Memorial plantings
- Turn of the century light-posts
Krider Gardens is included in the Elkhart County Quilt Gardens. For more information, visit http://www.amishcountry.org/QuiltGardens
Middlebury Greenway Park - Phase One – Located just west of downtown and extending from Wayne Street to York Drive beside Krider Garden.
This Pedestrian / Bicycle trail is our newest park. It connects to the existing pedestrian / bicycle path that goes along Wayne Street out to the Middlebury Schools campus. The Greenway Park is built on the former Pumpkinvine Railroad rail bed. The park has been made possible through a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and donations from the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Trail. The park will be under construction during 2005. Featured in the park are:
- Historic trestle bridge across the Little Elkhart river
- Fishing pier
- Landscaped, asphalt trail
- Adjacent to Krider Garden and Historical Society Museum
- Bicycle racks
- Picnic tables and benches
- Pavilion
- Perennial flower beds
Middlebury Greenway Park - Phase Two will be located south and west of the downtown area and will connect to the phase one of the Greenway Street. It will extend 1.2 miles along the Pumpkinvine Railroad right of way, under US 20 to the town limits.
Phase two of the Greenway Park is a proposed park that will be a multi-use trail for pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bikers, cross-country skiers and other forms of non-motorized transportation. The Park Board and Department has submitted an application to the Indiana Department of Transportation for a Grant to complete phase two of the Greenway. The construction will begin after we receive the grant approval. It will connect to the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail that someday will extend south and west to Goshen, and east to Shipshewana.Featured in the park will be:
- Asphalt trail
- Picnic tables and benches
- Access to the downtown area
Wayne Street Trail – located west of the downtown area extending from Berry Street to the Middlebury School campus alongside Wayne Street.
This is a one mile long asphalt trail that goes to the Greencroft retirement community, the Das Dutchmen Essenhaus complex, several housing developments, and many of our churches. Features of the trail are:
- Lighted by turn of the century light posts
- Benches
- Access to Greencroft Retirement Community and Das Essenhaus complex
- Provides an off street walking/biking trail to the school complex from downtown and many of our neighborhoods
The Trails of Middlebury
The Trails of Middlebury is a long term version of the Park and Recreation Department for a system of interconnecting multi-use trails for pedestrians, joggers, bikers, cross-country skiers and other forms of non-motorized transportation. This will be a unique system of trails that will provide residents and visitors with an off road safe location to exercise and experience the town of Middlebury. Features of the trail are:
- All of our Parks
- Downtown area
- The library
- The Das Dutchman Essenhaus complex
- The Boys and Girls Club
- The Crossing School
- Several of our churches
- The Historical Society Museum
- Middlebury Schools
- The Little Elkhart River
- Many of our neighborhoods
- The Greencroft Retirement Community
- Restaurants
- Other historic site
The core of the Trails of Middlebury system is phase one and two of the Greenway which follows the abandoned railroad bed of the Pumpkinvine Railroad and will connect:
East Park – Located on the east side of State Road 13 within the block north of downtown and across the street from Memorial Park.
This small park has been a popular fixture in Middlebury for almost 100 years. It is located next to our new town library and only a block from downtown. East Park has been almost totally reconstructed in 2005 and 2006 to include a new pavilion and playground. Featured in the park are:
- Large playground for children
- Large basketball court
- Open pavilion with fireplace and cooking grill
- Picnic tables and benches
- Additional parking
- Home to several town festivals throughout the year
- Adjacent to the town library
Memorial Park – Located on the west side of State Road 13 in the downtown area directly across the road from East Park.
Memorial park began with a tree planting in 1921 to honor World War I veterans from Middlebury .In late 1940’s , a World War II plaque and cannons were added. In 1986 , a gazebo was built by Jayco Corporation as a memorial to Lloyd Bontrager , the President of Jayco killed in a plane crash. A bandstand was built on an existing platform in 1995.
Memorial Park is the main location of our Summer Festival , Red Hat Society Days , and our Fall Festival. Featured in the park are:
- Town Christmas Tree
- War memorials
- Bandstand
- Gazebo
- Time capsule for Middlebury
- Picnic areas
- Town festivals
Troyer Park – Located south of downtown on AntlerDrive in the Deer Run subdivision.
Troyer Park is a neighborhood park on land donated by the developer Kerm Troyer. This park serves the residents of this neighborhood with recreational activities and open space. Featured in the park are:
- Basketball/ play court
- Playground equipment
- Picnic tables
- Benches
Riverbend Park – Located at 511 East Warren Street on the east edge of Middlebury along the Little Elkhart River.
Appealing to young and old alike, Riverbend Park is one of the most used parks in the Middlebury Park system. It includes a nice balance of activities, playground for the youth and serene river views for adults. The park expanded in 2003 by a donation of 16.4 acres of adjoining land by Spring Valley Corporation to its current 24.4 acres. It is used for an outdoor volleyball league as well as the Boys and Girls Club basketball league in the summer. The annual Summer Fun program for school age children is held here. Featured in the park are:
- Open pavilion with electric service
- Charcoal grills
- Lighted basketball courts
- Sand volleyball court
- Parking lot with hitching posts
- Playground equipment
- Spring fed fishing pond with lighted fountain
- Hiking trails wind from the park along the river and through the woods
- Access to the Little Elkhart River
- Sag stop for annual Pumpkinvine Trail bike ride
Recreational and Educational Activities
The Middlebury Park and Recreation Department supports many recreational and educational activities throughout the year.
- Summer Fun Program – For children 5-12 years old
- Hunter safety program
- Boater safety program
- Snowmobile safety program
- Punt, Pass and Kick program
- Summer volleyball league
- Summer basketball league
Light Pole Flowers
One of the many factors that make Middlebury “Town Beautiful “ is our annual hanging flower pots on each of the 84 turn of the century light poles throughout downtown and Krider World’s Fair Garden Park.
This project is supported by annual donations by residents , businesses and service organizations. If you would like to participate call the Town Hall 574-825-1499 for information.
Feedback
We would like to hear from you please print and complete or fill out on-line and send the survey to Park and Recreational Manager.
Park User Survey
Please email the Park Department at parks@middleburyin.com
