Hobart Parks Superintendent Kelly Goodpaster said she enjoyed coming to Robinson Lake Park with her great grandmother a few decades ago.
“This is my favorite park,” she said at Wednesday’s dedication of a new $93,000 playground.
Nestled on Hobart’s western side, just east of Interstate 65, Robinson Lake Park is a quiet 30-acre scenic site with a 17-acre lake flanked by the Oak Savannah regional bike trail.
It’s popular with nature lovers, fishermen and families who picnic and swim at the unguarded lake.
Workers created the lake, at 5250 Liverpool Road, when they dug out the site for fill in the 1970s during the construction of I-65. The state Department of Natural Resources has stocked it with fish in recent years.
The parks department also refurbished an unused former parking lot by the playground, more than doubling parking space. Grassy sod was scrapped off and millings were trucked in, Goodpaster said.
She said the city was able to get the playground equipment at half price after making a bulk order for new playgrounds in 10 other parks in 2019.
Goodpaster and Mayor Brian Snedecor praised the Friends of Robinson Lake for their support efforts. The park is located in the middle of the Hobart Marsh, an area of native prairie, wetlands and woodlands.
“Back when there was a lot of uncertainty about Robinson Lake, the Friends of Robinson Lake formed its goal to preserve it. Man, did they come on strong,” he said.
“It inspired me to keep Robinson Lake as a vital part of the community,” said Snedecor. “This is a huge step for Robinson Lake.”
Friends of Robinson Lake member Sandy O’Brien, who’s a naturalist, said the group hopes to see continued shoreline stabilization efforts.
Goodpaster said the park department has planted about 100 trees on the lake’s western end to eventually block views of I-65.
The Friends of Robinson Lake plan to dedicate a bench Sept. 9 in memory of past president Bob Krebes who died in 2018. It will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the park.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter at the Post-Tribune.
