"Relighting the Glow: The Renewal of Historic Rea Park"
It's a Park, Not Just a Golf Course!
Friends of Rea Park, Inc. is a non-profit community group partnering with the Terre Haute Parks Board and the Terre Haute Parks Department in an effort to renew one of Terre Haute, Indiana's greatest treasures, William S. Rea Park.
We Believe ...
The culture of Terre Haute must be changed! Improving the health of our citizens should become a top priority of our local city and county governments. The health and welfare of all Terre Haute and west-central Indiana residents can be improved by making Rea Park into a full-service park, one that emphasizes life-long, physical activity. A new Terre Haute South High School and an enhanced Rea Park will help revitalize the south side of Terre Haute!
National and State Significance ... A Point of Distinction, a Reference to History, an Emblem of Place in Terre Haute.
William S. Rea Park is listed on the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places. It is also listed on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures. We must work to ensure this historic park is appropriately maintained and preserved!
Photo courtesy of Ball State University 1925.
TH City Council Approves Rea Park Resolution
May 2018
The Terre Haute City Council and Mayor Duke Bennett approved Resolution No. 4, 2018 to renew historic Rea Park during their May 2018 meeting. The vote was 9 - 0 in favor of moving forward on the Rea Park renewal project.
The park, established in 1922 by William and Geraldine Rea, is in dire need of restoration. A community plan focuses on developing the 60 acres or so non-golf areas that run along South Seventh Street. It proposes a full-service health and recreation area be built on the Rea site.
Terre Haute and Vigo County rank near the bottom of Indiana counties in the health of its citizens. The county fell from 58th in overall health in 2011, to 81st out of 92 Indiana counties in 2018. In 2016, Vigo County ranked 91st in obesity, alcohol use, drug abuse, and tobacco use.
The City Council has agreed to work with Friends of Rea Park, Inc. and other public and private organizations in an effort to restore the historic clubhouse, replace the existing tennis courts with a new raquet center, modernize the existing driving range, establish a walking/biking pathway in the park, develop a family park/picnic area, and possibly a water splash facility on the property.
The purpose of developing Rea Park into a full-service park is to help raise the quality of life and increase the overall fitness of Vigo County residents in hopes of attracting new business and industry to the area.
Park Board Signs Agreement with Rea Friends
Memorandum of Understanding
The Terre Haute City Park Board and Friends of Rea Park, Inc. have signed a MOU that will allow fundraising for the renewal of historic Rea Park to begin. This memorandum of understanding was approved unanimously by the board at their August 2018 meeting.
This memorandum outlines the responsibilities of each party with respect to administration, marketing, communications, finance, staff, events, distribution of funds raised, and governance of the project.
The term of the MOU is from August 2018 to December 31, 2022. The agreement can be renewed again upon approval of the parties.
Sackrider & Company to Act as Rea Project Fiscal Agent
Sackrider and Company, a Terre Haute accounting firm, has been named the fiscal agent for the Rea Park renewal project spearheaded by the City of Terre Haute and Friends of Rea Park, Inc.
The firm will ...
- Prepare annual tax returns
- Provide periodic financial reports and schedules
- Maintain financial software and databases
- Provide pledges receivable and accounts payable accounting
- Establish a fundraising committee
- Hold funds collected for the project in safekeeping