The Daviess County Parks & Recreation Working Committee on Thursday recommended adding a new barn at Yellow Creek Park’s Pioneer Village, extending park hours seasonally, and restructuring shelter rental rates.
All three items will now go to Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen, who will decide whether to place them on a future Fiscal Court agenda for approval. If Castlen advances the proposals, Fiscal Court could vote on them as early as next month.
Proposed barn project for Yellow Creek Park
Parks Director David Smith said the proposed barn would replace the deteriorating Nature Center structure that greets visitors entering Pioneer Village. The goal is to move the building to a better location and replace it with a structure that better fits the village’s rural aesthetic.
That discussion led to the idea of relocating and reconstructing an old barn from within Daviess County, potentially one donated by a local farmer.
“We thought it would be neat if we could find an old barn in Daviess County and kind of keep our heritage here,” Smith said. “We have a rich ag heritage. Most of these old barns are tobacco barns.”
Smith said the county has identified a couple of barns that could be suitable, with the owner willing to donate them. The committee recommended spending $4,000 for a feasibility study to determine whether a barn can be safely deconstructed, transported, and reconstructed at Yellow Creek Park. The study will include a structural evaluation, coordination with planning and zoning for code compliance, and cost estimates for the move.
He added that one option could involve taking the best parts from two barns and piecing them together for one improved structure.
One builder familiar with the process told Smith it would likely be cheaper to move and reuse an existing barn than to build a new one, given current lumber prices.
If approved and feasible, the barn would be located near the Rosenwald School within Pioneer Village, designed to blend in with existing historic buildings and maintain the park’s open-air atmosphere.
Smith said the barn would not be a large event venue but could serve multiple purposes, from small wedding receptions to programming space for county events.
“Yellow Creek Park is already used a lot for weddings,” he said. “Someone who has a wedding there may want to have a little reception in this barn. … It also may add a different dimension to our Candy Cane Hunt or future Pioneer Days.”
A standalone restroom facility is expected to be built regardless of whether or not the barn project moves forward.
As part of the Parks Buildings Replacement Plan, Fiscal Court approved funding in the 2025-26 budget for the replacement of the nature center building. Smith said if the restroom facility were to be built, those allocated funds would cover the project.
Proposed new park hours
The committee also recommended updating park hours to better align with community use, particularly for evening pickleball at Yellow Creek and early baseball practices at Panther Creek.
The proposal would add two new seasonal periods — early spring and early winter — to extend usable hours for players and visitors. The proposed seasonal hours are:
- November 1-15: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- November 16 through March 15: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- March 16-31: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- April 16 through October 21: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“In the past, the court made special hours for the pickleball courts because they’re lit and one of the few lighted facilities,” Smith said. “Instead of having special rules for specific parks or fields, this creates a clear, countywide schedule that everyone can follow.”
Proposed new shelter rental policy
The committee also endorsed a shift from daily shelter rentals to 4-hour time blocks, aimed at allowing more residents to reserve and use park shelters throughout the year. Families could add additional hours but must do so at the time of booking.
Smith said shelters at Yellow Creek and Panther Creek are “consistently full,” with weekends often booked months in advance.
“By August or September, we’re turning people away because everything’s already rented,” he said.
Smith said that currently, they only rent the shelters for the entire day, but most families only use them for a few hours. The proposed change would allow multiple rentals per day.
Under the proposed rate structure, shelters could be reserved as four-hour blocks at the following rates:
- Small shelter: $32 for 4 hours, plus $8 per additional hour
- Medium shelter: $64 for 4 hours, plus $16 per additional hour
- Large shelter: $128 for 4 hours, plus $32 per additional hour
Smith said the change isn’t expected to generate significant new revenue since the added turnover will require more staff for cleaning and maintenance.
“This isn’t about the money,” he said. “It’s about access and fairness. We just want to make sure more people can enjoy our parks.”
