01/10/2025
Way to go Phoenix!
Girl Scout Phoenix Bridegroom reports to Chesterton Park Board on status of her friendship bench Gold Star project
Let’s say your 8-year-old is new to the neighborhood and knows no one in the schoolyard or on the playground. Or is simply shy and awkward around his or her peers. Your daughter or son wants to play with them, wants to join the fun, but hasn’t a clue how to break the ice and make that happen.
Many of us were that kid and remember the feeling of being excluded and marginalized. It hurt then and maybe still hurts. Yet were we really being ostracized? The playground is a chaotic frenetic place where half a dozen or a dozen children, screaming, laughing, intent on their play, are oblivious to the world outside the game. What we, in those days, saw as exclusive cliques—no newcomers need apply—were almost always just loose knots of close friends, mere acquaintances, and absolute strangers in casual constellation, as willing to welcome a newcomer as they were unaware that there even was one.
So it would’ve been nice back then to have access to a friendship bench (otherwise known as a friendship seat or a buddy bench): A park bench specifically identified as the place for kids who want to make the scene to sit and signal their openness to an invitation.
According to Signet Play of the United Kingdom, a friendship bench “is a simple yet profound addition to any playground. It’s a designated seat where your children can indicate their desire for social interaction just by sitting down. This removes the intimidating aspect of approaching others or asking them to join an ongoing game. The bench stands as a silent yet powerful invitation for friendship and inclusion.”
Kudos, accordingly, to CHS senior and Girl Scout Phoenix Bridegroom, who as her Gold Star project is overseeing the construction of four friendship benches to be installed at the Dogwood Park playground.
As Bridegroom reported to the Chesterton Park Board at its meeting Tuesday evening, Jan. 7, two of the four benches have been built, stained, and sanded; while materials for the other two have been delivered to the CHS workshop for construction and should be completed by the end of January.
Since September, Bridegroom said, she and another Girl Scout have raised $1,000 to fund the project, plus $50 more in candy sales, one of the requirements of the Gold Star process. To date she’s spent $486.89 on the project.
Bridegroom is also working on the design and sizing of two plaques to be affixed to each bench: One to explain its purpose, the other featuring questions—prompts, let’s say—for those wishing to extend an invitation to the sitter.
Bridgegroom is hoping to have the benches installed on the circumference of the Dogwood Park playground by March 1, at each of its cardinal compass points, with arrows directing sitters to the next bench in the circle.
Bridgegroom will attend Ball State University in the fall.
“Great job!” President Bob Cohn told her.
“Congratulations!” Member Paul Shinn added.
COFFEE CREEK POND ENHANCEMENT
In other business, Superintendent Tyler McLead reported that the books are nearly closed on the Coffee Creek Pond enhancement project, with the Park Board’s unanimous approval earlier in the meeting of Berglund Construction’s final pay application, in the amount of $18,132.80 including retainage.
“There will be some more reports that are required by the Lake Michigan Coastal Program,” McLead noted. “They have a Q4 report that’s due and the final report as well that I’m working on.”
The project was partially funded by a 50/50 grant awarded by the Lake Michigan Coastal Program in the amount of $100,000.
2025 PARK BOND ISSUE
Meanwhile, McLead reminded the Park Board that a new 10-year park bond will be issued later this year, probably in the fall, and that an action plan will need to be finalized.
“So we’ll use the first half of the year to prioritize and plan projects for another bond,” he told the Park Board. “That could include some work sessions or special meetings to have those discussions.”
SPECIAL USE PERMIT: CORKSCREW & BREW
The Park Board voted unanimously to approve a special use permit for the Duneland Chamber of Commerce’s annual Corkscrew & Brew event in Thomas Centennial Park, from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 15.
This year the Chamber is requesting permission to erect a 40’ x 60’ tent in its parking lot at 220 Broadway, as it did for the Hometown Holiday Celebration in November. “There’s a process they have to go through to get that done,” McLead said. “I believe they’ll be seeking Town Council approval as well, its being an alcohol-related event in the park.”
Will the boxcar restroom be opened for Corkscrew & Brew? Cohn asked.
“It depends on the weather,” McLead replied. We were able to get them open last year. They’re going to have port-a-Johns too.”
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
*The Park Department will be working throughout the month on the removal of the holiday decorations from Thomas Centennial Park.
*Staff is beginning to service equipment in preparation for spring.
*The CHS Building Trades classes should compete the new storage building at Dogwood Park sometime this month.
