In partnership with

THE SENIOR SCENE

Come enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner at the Senior Center

We are thrilled to invite you to our annual Thanksgiving Dinner, open to the public, on Thursday, November 14. This cherished event is a wonderful opportunity to gather with friends, family, and community members to celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, November 14

• Time Slots: 4:30 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM

• Ticket Price: $15 per person

• Location: Michigan City Senior Center

Why You Should Attend:

• Limited Tickets: Only 150 tickets are available, with 50 tickets per time slot. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today!

• Delicious Menu: Enjoy a generous feast featuring ham dinner, au gratin potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, vegetables, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, dessert, and a beverage. No tax or tip required!

• Support a Good Cause: Your participation helps fund essential programming for older adults at the Michigan City Senior Center.

How to Get Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase at the Michigan City Senior Center from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) between 8 AM and 4 PM.

Come join us and let’s be thankful together this Thanksgiving! We look forward to celebrating with you.

AT THE ZOO

Winter At the Zoo

At the Washington Park Zoo, we often hear the question, “Where do the animals go in the winter?”  The answer is that they stay right here!  The zoo is a lot quieter since we close for the season on October 31^st, but our animals and zoo keepers do not go anywhere.  Some animals spend the winter outdoors, some indoors, and many have the opportunity to do both.  

Many animals (including Grizzly Bears, Bald Eagles, and River Otters) are native to these cooler areas and enjoy the winter weather. Even some animals whose habitats are found in warmer climates, like the Asian Bengal Tigers and Australian Emu, can acclimatize to the cold.  Most of the animals that can go outside are offered a choice year-round—to go outside or to stay in their indoor exhibit. In the winter their indoor dens are heated including the northern species, like the wolf, bear, and otter.  If the animals wants to go back inside to get out of the cold, they always have that access and are not forced to stay outside. All year long, every animal has a place it can go to get out of the weather. 

Some species, such as primates and parrots, aren’t built to cope with winter conditions. In these cases, the zoo decides what to do based on the animal’s normal habitat and its adaptability. If the animal can’t adapt to colder weather, it is moved to a climate-controlled area where its temperature and humidity can be monitored more closely.  

Here at the Washington Park Zoo, we work hard every day to keep the animals mentally and physically healthy and this sometimes involves a little creativity. Animals are given daily enrichment in the form of toys, puzzles, browse, radios, etc., as well as regular training/conditioning from keepers. In the winter the animals receive extra attention from the zoo staffers to ensure they’re moving around and getting their exercise, no matter the weather. 

During the fall and winter months, we also pay special attention to the food that we set out for the animals -- adding extra food or special feed such as whole corn in the diet to help the animals bulk up for the colder season. Here at the zoo, on a snowy winter day with temperatures in the mid 20’s, Grant's Zebra, which are an Africa species, can be seen shuffling through the snow grazing on hay and grain. In general, our zebra like most zoo animals look a little more, rounded than their wild cousins, in part because they have this extra little layer of body fat.  

When it gets below zero and the lake effect snow settles in it’s a bit more challenging for us, but for the most part, we are designing the zoo and acquiring animals that can adapt to the cold weather. Often it's not the snow or cold that's the biggest hazard, it's the ice. In snow, hooved and pawed animals can grip the ground quite well, but ice is a different matter, and a slip or a fall could be disastrous for animals and humans, which is one reason why the zoo is not open year-round. 

Zoo Staff work hard months in advance to make sure that the animals are prepared to meet the demands of winter's harsh conditions. As for the zoo staff when the cold temperatures or a blizzard of severe snow hit the region, we humans bundle up and make the best of it, and yes we even work on holidays. 

Extended Season

We are excited to announce that the zoo is extending our 2024 season to weekends throughout November. A zoo visit in cooler weather is truly a unique experience with quieter pathways and the chance to see some species actually being more active. The weather may affect the availability of some attractions and certain animals may not be on exhibit if the temperature falls below certain thresholds while they are safe in their climate-controlled holding areas.

The extended season will last from Nov 2nd to Nov. 30th for Saturday and Sunday visits from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.

Look to the Zoo for the Perfect Holiday Gifts

Are you looking for that perfect gift this holiday season? The Washington Park Zoo has many great gift-giving ideas that are popular with families and nature lovers that help support the animals. 

Gift Memberships 

The gift that keeps on giving memorable experiences throughout the entire year is a Zoo Membership. Get a full year of excitement and adventure that includes unlimited free admission to the Zoo, gift shop discounts, four free parking during regular Zoo hours, special VIP opportunities, and discounts from a list of other zoos throughout the country.  

Animal Sponsorships– A.D.O.P.T.S. 

Another option that keeps on giving is our animal adoption program called A.D.O.P.T.S.  From cotton top tamarins to tortoises, all of the animals at the Washington Park Zoo need of a special friend to help sponsor their care and feeding. The Zoo’s yearly food budget is over $53,000 and nutrition is a top priority including the highest grades of meat and the freshest of produce, along with hundreds of pounds of fish, hay, and crickets.  Funds from the A.D.O.P.T.S. program go toward feeding, veterinary care, and caring for all of the 250 animals at the Zoo.   Special holiday A.D.O.P.T.S packages are available and can include an adoption certificate, with your name or your recipient’s name, a plush toy, and a photo information card about your animal. 

For more information about programs, events, sponsorships, and other information about the zoo, visit www.washingtonparkzoo.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/WashingtonParkZoo/, or call us at 219.873-1510.  

Recreation

Adult Winter Basketball League

Sign-Ups for Adult Winter Basketball League will start on October 4th
$600 a team
8-game regular season +Playoff
Click here for online registration
Send an email to MC Park and Rec with any other questions [email protected]

Halloween Costume Exchange

We would like to start a yearly costume exchange, but we need help building up our initial inventory. As you sift through those old costumes are add new ones to the tote, think about someone else who might be able to get some good use out of your once worn costume.

Mark Your Calendars

NOVEMBER

• Wednesday, November 6th - Park Board Meeting - City Hall - 5pm

• Sunday, November 17th - Trail Hikes - Winding Creek Cove - 3pm

• Wednesday, November 20th - Park Board Meeting - City Hall - 5pm

DECEMBER

• Saturday, December 7th - Holiday Parade - more information HERE 

• Saturday, December 7th - Lighting of the Holiday Lights at Washington Park & Festival of Lights Celebration

Until Next Time

Thank you for spending a bit of time with the Park and Rec Department. We hope that this was helpful and informative. Hope to see you out and about at the parks sometime this month, Fall is a gorgeous time in Michigan City to enjoy the trails. We hope you will tune again in November for our next edition. In the meantime if you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!