Annual park reservation quest gets underway

People hoping to make shelter and park reservations for 2021 events drew no long lines as NWI parks departments deal with the world of COVID-19.

People hoping to make shelter and park reservations for 2021 events drew no long lines last Monday as Northwest Indiana parks departments deal with the world of COVID-19.

Emily Trisler, communications director with Lake County Parks and Recreation, said the department also now takes reservations online or via telephone, as well as at the office in Merrillville. The department was heading in that direction of online reservations but the pandemic pushed it to the forefront.

In past years, residents would line up outside the office waiting to snag the first reservation for their desired park facility. Despite the change in how reservations may be made, the number of reservations remains similar.

“We really kind of stayed the course (with reservations),” Trisler said. Last year about 15 reservations came in; this year they received about 12.

In Highland, North Township has postponed rentals at Wicker Memorial Park until further notice, according to a Facebook post from the park.

“We will continue to observe local and state guidelines to determine whether it is safe to reopen our facilities,” the post read.

Taylor Bundren, public relations coordinator for the Porter County Parks Department, said they also accept reservations online. She said Porter County operates a little differently than most park departments, accepting accepts reservations for its facilities two years in advance, so there usually it not a big rush of people on the first business day of the year trying to secure park shelters.

She said the department has a lot of bookings in May so far this year. Some of those reservations are for postponed 2020 events.

Both park officials say they are keeping close watch on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s pandemic updates and health department guidelines when it comes to scheduling events for the coming season.

“We are following a lot of the guidelines from the Porter County Health Department,” Bundren said.

At this time events are limited to 25 people. Renters are informed of the gathering size restrictions at the time they rent and advised that number may changed based on health department recommendations.

“We are kind of sticking to whatever the state recommends, which is hard right now on people booking in April, May and June,” Trisler said. The department has been working with renters who have had to cancel their events and will continue to do so as needed as the year progresses.

“I think people are cautiously optimistic,” Trisler said, adding it is nice the departments’ venues are outdoors, making it easier for social distancing. “There’s lots of room to spread out and give people distance.”

Trisler said a lot of people who schedule annual events appear to be holding off on planning until it gets a little closer due to the pandemic.

“Who knows where we will be in two weeks,” she said.

Irene Mireles, administrative and programs coordinator for the Schererville Parks Department, said the department does not begin accepting reservations until Jan. 11. Like the county park departments, Schererville is following state and local guidelines and closely monitoring the governor’s updates for any changes that may impact events. The department also offers online booking and in-person booking at the town clerk’s office and community center. Bookings cannot be made by phone.

“We have had a couple people call already,” Mireles said. She expects to see the patrons who host annual events be among the first Monday to book their space in the hopes the events can go forward.

“We are taking it week by week,” Mireles said. She said patrons are scheduling larger events for later in the year and are warned their ability to host the event may be impacted by gathering size restrictions at that time.

Bundren said some of the larger events scheduled later in the year through the parks are on the books for now.

“A lot of people who are planning events, maybe in the summer, fall and winter, are kind of looking at it with the perspective if things get better we still want to be able to make plans,” she said. Some events that were canceled last year are back on the books for 2021 with the hopes things will get better.

“I think they are looking at it with a hopeful perspective. We just make sure we are keeping them updated,” she said.

Trisler also said the attitude is hopeful and reservations show people are looking forward to a time when the virus has ended.

“I think that there is a lot of hope. People are ready to get together again,” she said.