Decatur-Adams County Parks and Recreation

🏀🛹 CITY PARK SPOTLIGHT: NORTH WARD PARK!

Just across the street from Waterworks Park, you’ll find North Ward Park at 519 N. 5th Street in Decatur!

If basketball or skateboarding is your thing, this is a park you’ll want to check out. North Ward offers:

🏀 Two full-court basketball courts
🛹 A skate park

One thing that makes North Ward special is that we recently had community members who actually use the park help us make updates to the space. We believe the people who spend time in our parks have valuable insight into what works, what could be better, and what they would like to see.

That’s part of our goal moving forward: listening to the people who use our parks and working together to make these spaces better for our community.

Whether you’re shooting hoops, working on your next skate trick, or just meeting up with friends, North Ward Park is another place to get outside and enjoy what Decatur has to offer!

📍 North Ward Park
519 N. 5th Street, Decatur, Indiana

Have you visited North Ward Park lately? We’d love to hear what you enjoy about it!

🌳 CITY PARK SPOTLIGHT: WATERWORKS PARK 🌳

Looking for a place for the kids to play while spending a summer day at the pool? 💦 Waterworks Park is right beside the Decatur City Pool, making it a convenient stop for families!

Located on North 5th Street, Waterworks Park offers a playground with something for kids to climb, swing, and explore. 🛝

Here’s what you’ll find:

🛝 Playground equipment – Including swings, a slide, a merry-go-round, and a climbing structure.

🌳 Shade – A little relief from the sun while the kids play.

🪑 Benches – A spot to sit and take a break.

🍦 Summer concession access – When the pool is open, the nearby concession stand is close by for a summertime treat!

The playground has a sand-based surface, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

Whether you're stopping by for a quick playground visit or pairing playtime with a trip to the pool, Waterworks Park is another place our community can enjoy! ❤️

📍 Waterworks Park
602 N. 5th Street, Decatur, IN 46733

Have you visited Waterworks Park with your family? Share your favorite memories below!

🌳 CITY PARK SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH WARD PARK 🌳

This is a special park for us to highlight because South Ward Park is getting ready for a BIG transformation! ❤️

Located on Wi******er Street, South Ward Park has been a neighborhood spot for kids and families to enjoy for years. Right now, you’ll find:

🏀 Basketball court – A place to shoot hoops and enjoy some friendly competition.

🛝 Playground equipment – Including swings, a slide, and a merry-go-round.

But we're excited about what's coming next!

✨ SOUTH WARD PARK IS CHANGING! ✨

Through our partnership with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and its CreatINg Places program, we're working toward transforming South Ward Park into an all-inclusive, accessible park where children of all abilities can play together.

The new park is planned to include:

🌈 Inclusive playground equipment with sensory-focused features and opportunities for children of different abilities to play together.

👶 A dedicated toddler play area designed for our youngest visitors, ages 2–5.

♿ Accessibility improvements, including turf surfacing, accessible pathways, and a fenced playground area.

🧺 A pavilion and restrooms to make family visits more comfortable.

🏀 An improved basketball court and multi-use recreation space with room for additional activities.

Our goal is to have the new park in place by the end of spring 2027! 🌷

This project is about more than new equipment. It's about creating a place where families feel welcome, children can explore and connect, and every child has the opportunity to play.

As we wrap up our Patronicity fundraising campaign, we want to thank everyone who has donated, shared our posts, encouraged others, and helped move this vision forward. This project is an example of what our community can accomplish when we work together! 💚

📍 Find South Ward Park:
711 Wi******er Street, Decatur, IN 46733

We can't wait to share more updates as this park takes shape! South Ward Park is changing, and we're excited for what's ahead. 🌳❤️

🌳 CITY PARK SPOTLIGHT: FOUNDERS PARK 🌳

Sometimes, a little green space in the middle of a busy day is just what you need! ❤️

Today, we're highlighting Founders Park, a small corner park located right across from Decatur City Hall in the heart of downtown.

This little pocket park is a reminder that parks don't have to be big to make a difference in our community!

🌿 What can you enjoy at Founders Park?

🪑 Seating – Take a break, sit for a while, or enjoy a quiet moment outdoors.

🌳 Shade and greenery – A little escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

🏙️ Downtown access – Conveniently located near City Hall and downtown businesses, making it an easy stop while you're out exploring Decatur.

Founders Park is a simple place to pause, enjoy the outdoors, and appreciate the charm of our downtown community. Whether you're running errands, visiting a local business, or taking a stroll through town, this little park is right here when you need a moment to slow down.

📍 Find Founders Park:
172 N. 2nd Street, Decatur, IN 46733

Have you stopped by Founders Park? If you haven't, try grabbing your favorite book and spending a little time reading here. We'd love to hear your thoughts on our downtown green spaces! 💚

Stay tuned as we continue highlighting the city parks that make Decatur a great place to live, work, and play.

As we prepare for colder weather, Decatur Adams County Parks & Recreation will be winterizing our outdoor facilities.

💧 Water will be turned off by November 1st at all city park bathrooms, baseball diamonds, and drinking fountains to help prevent freezing and damage to the plumbing.

🚻 Portable restrooms (porta-johns) will also be picked up beginning November 1st from:

Homestead Park

McMillen Park

Riverside Center

Please plan accordingly when visiting these locations. We appreciate your understanding as we prepare our parks for the winter season!

Thank you for enjoying our parks throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to these amenities in the spring! 🍁

— Decatur Adams County Parks & Recreation

Tot Time at the Service Complex starts next Wednesday! There will not be Tot Time on Nov 11th due to Veterans Day.

🎉 WE DID IT!!! 🎉

Decatur and Adams County, YOU SHOWED UP!!! ❤️

We are beyond excited to announce that we have officially MET OUR $50,000 GOAL! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we have raised $51,034 through Patronicity!

But wait… there's even MORE to celebrate!

Adams Memorial Hospital has matched donations, adding another $10,000 to our efforts!

Because we reached our $50,000 fundraising goal, we have unlocked the $50,000 matching grant through IHCDA's CreatINg Places program!

That means we currently have $61,034 raised in our community, with another $50,000 in matching grant funds from IHCDA!

THAT'S A TOTAL OF $111,034 GOING TOWARD SOUTH WARD PARK!!! 🎉

We want to extend a very special THANK YOU to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) for making this matching grant possible through the CreatINg Places program. This program gives communities the opportunity to turn local ideas into meaningful improvements by bringing community support and matching grant dollars together. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for the investment in our community!

BUT WE AREN'T DONE YET!

There are still 6 days left to donate through Patronicity! We will also continue accepting donations after November 2 as we keep working toward creating this inclusive space where children and families of ALL ages, abilities, and needs can play, connect, and make memories together.

This park is about so much more than playground equipment. It's about making sure every child has a place to play, every family has a place to gather, and everyone has a place to BELONG.

To every individual, family, business, organization, and community partner who has donated, shared our posts, encouraged us, or helped spread the word: THANK YOU! Every bit of support has helped get us here.

This is what happens when a community comes together, and we couldn't be prouder to be part of Decatur and Adams County!

LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING! ❤️🌳

📣 NOW HIRING: RIVERSIDE CENTER EVENING STAFF!

Are you looking for a part-time evening job in the community? We’re looking for someone to join our team at Riverside Center starting in January! 🌳

🕓 Hours: Monday–Thursday, 4:00–8:00 PM
💵 Starting Pay: $10.93 per hour
📍 Location: Riverside Center, Decatur, Indiana

We’re hoping to find a dependable, responsible adult who enjoys working with people, can take initiative, and is comfortable helping supervise a space where teenagers and community members gather.

What will you be doing?
✅ Keeping the building clean and welcoming
✅ Restocking bathrooms and supplies
✅ Helping manage and oversee the evening’s activities
✅ Selling concessions
✅ Assisting with activities and programs as they get underway
✅ Helping make Riverside Center a great place for our community to gather!

We’re currently planning additional evening activities, so there will be more to share as those plans come together!

Bonus availability: We’d also love someone who may be available to work the first Sunday of each month and the second Saturday of each month when Riverside hosts its regular events.

If you’re responsible, dependable, and enjoy being part of your community, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Interested? Pick up an application from City Hall or visit City of Decatur's website to apply.

Please share this post to help us find the right person for our Riverside team! ❤️