Daviess County officials on Tuesday celebrated the completion of a new picnic shelter at Yellow Creek Park, marking what Judge/Executive Charlie Castlen called the start of a broader effort to upgrade the county’s park facilities.
A ribbon cutting took place Tuesday afternoon at Shelter #1, located directly across from the park’s spray park. Castlen said the project stemmed from a survey by former County Engineer Mark Brasher that revealed deficiencies in existing shelters.
“When I became Judge/Executive, it was quickly pointed out that we were in need of upgrading our shelters,” Castlen said. “We put in the budget to do two new shelters last year. This one is a carryover from the previous budget, and I think it has come together very nicely. I think citizens will be very pleased.”
Castlen said the shelter’s lower portion features a pebble-stone look that ties into the “creek” themes of several county parks, including Yellow Creek, Panther Creek, Horse Fork Creek, and Pup Creek.
The shelters, he said, are heavily used for everything from wedding showers to end-of-season sports banquets, family reunions, and community events.
“You get to enjoy the rest of the park — the pickleball courts, the spray park, fishing — it’s just a great place,” he said.
A new restroom building is also under construction at Yellow Creek Park and is expected to open within the next month. Another picnic shelter is planned for the park’s Pioneer Village area, and Panther Creek Park will also get a new shelter this fiscal year.
“I look for us to rehab all of our shelters and make them top-notch for our community,” Castlen said. “There are many in our community who don’t have the resources to travel to state or national parks, so it’s important to have quality green spaces here at home where people can escape and enjoy nature.”
