River Ramble at St. Patrick's Park

St. Joseph County Parks commissioned Lehman & Lehman, Inc. for this special project highlighting the nearby St. Joseph River with a natural play area in St. Patrick’s Park in South Bend, IN.

River Ramble Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting, May 22, 2021

River Ramble Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting, May 22, 2021

After nearly two years of planning, raising funds, construction, and delays caused by the pandemic the park held it’s Ribbon Cutting on May 22, 2021.

River Ramble offers a variety of natural play features as well as a deck to view the St. Joseph River and a sun dial that uses your shadow to tell the time of day .

This article from the South Bend Tribune describe the organic play opportunities that await visitors to St. Patrick’s Park and how they came to be.

Elm Road Pedestrian Park

Lehman & Lehman was commissioned by Harris Township to provide an overall master plan of a new township park called Elm Road Pedestrian Park. This new park facility, of approximately 9.6 acres, is owned by the Township and is located north of the Harris Township Offices on St. Road 23 and on the east side of Elm Road. The master plan includes logical phasing and development strategies with the last phase to be completed in 2017.

The park is to provide the Harris Township residents an area for fun, exercise, health, safety, and a sense of “WOW”! The development of the park will provide community connections to the adjacent church, library and neighborhoods.

Park development components include pathways for pedestrian access as well as connections with the Granger Pathways system, basketball and pickleball courts, multi-use play fields and areas for yard/court games, such as corn hole, horseshoes, volleyball, etc.

These new components were opened to the public on November 2nd. An hour after construction fencing was removed an eager crowd was playing pickleball and basketball and the courts have been full every day since. We’re told the surrounding neighbors are placing orders for pickleball paddles from Amazon to be shipped overnight! Children are seen riding their bikes to the park carrying a basketball. To say this park has been well received is an understatement.

Playground components, sponsored by Granger Sunrise Rotary, are in the planning stages and will be the next addition to the park.

Plans for the future include areas with shelters for shade and picnicking, walking trails, additional tree plantings and signage.

Central Park Progress

Local television station WNDU recently featured an update on the construction at Central Park, located near downtown Mishawaka. Set to open for the July 4th holiday, much progress can be seen on the changes made to this popular community park. You can read the article or watch the video here.

Lehman & Lehman is proud to be a part of this community enrichment project.