Celebrating 60 Years of Care & Conservation!

Incorporated on June 7, 1965, the Michigan City Zoological Society, Inc. proudly celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025! For six decades, the volunteer board has remained committed to its mission: “To Care & Conserve!”

Working hand-in-hand with the Washington Park Zoo staff, the Society helps provide the highest quality care for animals while offering homes for misplaced exotic pets and non-releasable wildlife.

Each year, the Society hosts two major fundraising events:

· Run Wild for the Zoo 5K

· Brew at the Zoo

These popular events draw hundreds of participants and generate essential funding to support zoo operations.

As a vital partner to the Michigan City Park Department and Washington Park Zoo, the Society contributes to annual expenditures for animal purchases, exhibit enhancements, food, and veterinary care. They also play a key role in securing grant funding from organizations that award grants exclusively to non-profits.

Most recently, with the Society’s assistance, the Washington Park Zoo received $95,000 from the Margaret and Otto Zack Charitable Trust. This funding will be used for a new backup generator for the diet kitchen, exhibit improvements, and supply purchases. Since 2013, the Zack Charitable Trust has awarded $816,440 to the Society—every dollar dedicated to zoo improvements and operations.

On behalf of the Michigan City Park Board, the Park Department, and the Washington Park Zoo staff, we congratulate the Society on 60 successful years and thank them for their unwavering support. We look forward to another exciting year working together to preserve our gem on the lakefront!

For more information, visit mczoosociety.org.

MC SENIOR CENTER : Why Become a Memeber

Joining the Michigan City Senior Center is an easy and meaningful way to stay active, engaged, and connected within a vibrant community. For just $15 per year, members enjoy access to a wide range of programs designed to enrich life after 55.

Membership is open to U.S. citizens aged 55 or older, and the Center’s mission is simple but powerful: to enhance the lives of seniors through education, social engagement, and recreational opportunities. Whether you’re looking to stay physically active, expand your knowledge, or meet new friends, the Senior Center offers something for everyone.

Members can participate in exercise programs tailored to various fitness levels, language classes that keep the mind sharp, and a variety of special presentations. These sessions cover valuable and timely topics, from healthier eating and effective exercise routines to learning how to avoid scams and protect personal information.

Beyond the classes and programs, the Michigan City Senior Center provides a welcoming environment where seniors can connect, socialize, and feel part of a supportive community. Becoming a member isn’t just about joining a center, it’s about enhancing your quality of life.

Did we mention that Senior Center members get a discounted Washington Park Pass? For those who only come for the summer months but aren’t residents, being a member also hold the benefit of getting you beach parking pass at a lower rate.

If you’re 55 or older, consider joining today. The benefits go far beyond the small annual dues, offering enrichment, friendship, and opportunities to thrive.

Franklin Street Bridge Closure

Invest in Community: 2026 Michigan City Recreation Sponsorship Opportunities

Michigan City Parks & Recreation is excited to invite local businesses and organizations to partner with us for an impactful 2026 season! Our mission is to create inclusive, engaging experiences that bring families together and strengthen neighborhoods. From youth baseball to traveling block parties, your support helps make it happen.

Why Sponsor?
Your sponsorship directly supports programs that reach thousands of residents while giving your brand visibility across events, social media, and community spaces.

Opportunities Include:

• Youth Baseball Team Sponsorships – Your name/logo on team jerseys and league materials.

• Patriot Park Banner Sponsorships – High-visibility banners on outfield fences or premium dugout/backstop locations.

• The Plug-In: Traveling Block Party Series – Bring free, family-friendly events into neighborhoods through vendor and community sponsorships.

Featured Package: Community Connection Sponsorship – $1,000
This all-in-one option includes:
✔ Youth Baseball Team Sponsorship
✔ Patriot Park Outfield Banner
✔ Vendor access at all The Plug-In events
✔ Social media thank-you to 12,000+ followers
✔ Recognition in our monthly newsletter

Additional Options:

• Team Sponsor: $400

• Outfield Banner: $400/year

• Premium Banner: $600/year

• Vendor Sponsor: $250

• Neighborhood Partner: $500

• City Champion: $1,000

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Join us in making 2026 our most impactful year yet! For details or to customize a package, contact:

William Walker, Assistant Superintendent
📧 [email protected] | 📞 (219) 832-4840

Park Board Meeting Recaps

Park Board Meeting - December 3, 2025

Capital projects and zoo exhibit bids

• The board opened and read aloud four bids for the Washington Park Zoo “Wings of Wonder” exhibit, with base bids ranging roughly from the mid-$400,000s to over $600,000 plus alternates for a clearstory feature; all bidders met the city’s responsible bidder requirements.

• The board voted to hold the bids over to the next meeting for detailed review before awarding the project.

Community events and partnerships

• The board approved the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s license agreement, allowing the annual October walk to return to Washington Park with minimal city staffing needs.

• Staff reported on a community roundtable at GAF, noting the company’s strong interest in outreach, including offering volunteers and potential roofing projects that could benefit park facilities such as the North Course clubhouse

Seasonal operations and program notes

• The superintendent noted that funding from the rainy day fund for the demolition of Millennium Plaza was approved by the City Council, allowing work to proceed before peak programming season.

Golf course updates and performance

• Golf maintenance reported completion of aerification on the South Course greens by a contractor, partial aerification on the North Course before equipment failure, installation of new irrigation satellites (17 on South, 6 on North), winterization of irrigation systems and facilities, and ongoing winter equipment service and inventory work.

• Golf operations shared that winter hours are in effect, a holiday sale is underway (25% off in-stock shoes, bags, and apparel), all 2025 outing groups have “save the dates” for 2026, key golf staff intend to return, 2026 memberships are on sale at City Hall, and year-to-date green fees are up about $110,000 while cart fees are up about $7,000—helped in part by treating Fridays as weekend-rate days in 2025.

December 17, 2025

Contracts and facility operations

• The board approved a new lease for the department’s copy machines with Kemp’s after legal jurisdiction language was corrected and the superintendent was authorized to sign on the board’s behalf.​

• One proposal for the North Point Pavilion concession lease, submitted by JVP Hospitality of Indiana LLC, was formally accepted for staff review, with a recommendation to be brought back at the next meeting.​

• The Patriot Park concession operation lease with Third Degree Burn was renewed for its final year under the current three‑year agreement, with plans to rebid the contract in fall 2026.​

Financial and attendance discussions

• The board accepted the department’s 2025 third quarter variance report and third quarter financial report.​

Programs, attendance, and marketing

• Staff noted that City Kids Day Camp attendance has not rebounded to its pre‑COVID levels of roughly 65–75 campers per week, and camp staffing will be reduced in 2026 while still offering strong value, field trips, and included meals.​

• Board members encouraged exploring enhanced advertising strategies—especially in the Chesterton and Dunes corridor—to capture visitors heading to the Indiana Dunes and funnel more of them to Michigan City’s parks, zoo, and golf course.​

Zoo “Wings of Wonder” project

• The board accepted the low bid and awarded the construction contract for the Washington Park Zoo “Wings of Wonder” exhibit to Larson‑Danielson: a base bid of $427,927 plus $46,885 for a clearstory, for a total of $474,812, which is under the approximately $496,000project budget.​

• The contractor has 170 days to complete the work, and staff expressed hope the new aviary will be open by late May 2026, including the upgraded clearstory feature that community members had strongly supported.​

Employee policy updates

• The board reviewed and aligned several department policies with a new citywide handbook effort, including adding a birth and placement leave benefit and adopting changes already approved by the Board of Works, effective January 1.​

Community Events

Game night will start the 4th Monday in March, not February.

Craft Corner Updates

Kazidelicious Creations will be taking a short break in January and February 2026 to give themselves time to recharge and reboot. But don’t worry, they’ve already locked in dates for March through June, so the creativity will be back soon!

2026 Youth Baseball League

Registrations will start on January 5th, 2026. Download the Ottoapp now.
Also anyone interested in coaching can also apply on the Ottoapp. Find “2026 I want to Coach/Volunteer.”

The OttoApp is a mobile native platform that gives you, the user, a very simple and streamlined way to view and sign up for Park and Rec activities. We’ve chatted with Ottoapp and got them to revise and simplify their checkout process. Right now, the app will host our leagues, events, and classes; but in the future we plan to provide facility rentals, merchandise sales, concession sales, and much more through the application.

Click here to Download the Apple App
Click here to Download the Android App
Click here to go to the Web Browser Version

Until Next Time

Your parks are here for you, every season, every neighborhood, every day. Let’s make the next year unforgettable, together!

If you have any questions please reach out to us via email at [email protected] or give us a call (219)873-1506.