Winfield town officials on Tuesday approved a purchase agreement of 120 acres that will be turned into what they termed a “generational central park.”
The Winfield Redevelopment Commission gave the nod to a three-year purchase agreement for farmland owned by the Sapper family.
The purchase agreement, which will be made in three phases, sets the price per acre at $30,000, according to Town Manager Nick Bellar. It was first approved by the redevelopment commission, then presented to the Winfield Town Council on Tuesday during which members gave their unanimous approval.
The purchase agreement, along with the adoption of a $4.25 million bond, will next go back to the redevelopment commission for a public hearing at its April 28 meeting. Most of the bond will go toward the purchase price of around $3.6 million.
The 120 acres, which is currently being used for farmland, is located approximately east of Benton Street and north of 117th Avenue, Town Councilman Jon Derwinski said.
Derwinski said he and other officials have been holding conversations with Carl Allen Sapper for over three years.
He said the land has been farmed and has been in the Sapper family for over 100 years.
Housing and any structures used by the Sapper family will remain in place.
Once town officials give final approval to the purchase, there will be several workshops during which residents will get the opportunity to say what amenities they’d like to see, Derwinski said.
A conceptual rendering of the future park, which is now being referred to as 117th Park Project, was on display at the meeting on Tuesday.
Proposed plans include a nature playground, destination playground, skate park, tennis courts, pickleball courts, soccer fields, a shelter and restroom, and a small community center with a large overlook/patio.
Derwinski said the renderings are only conceptual, and it will be up to Winfield residents to decide what they want to see at the future park.
“It’s all up to discussion,” Derwinski said.
He said the town’s only other major park, the Randolph Street Park, is 15-acres with only 10-acres of it usable since it’s located on a large pond.
Derwinski envisions the new park being used for multiple events including such things as Fourth of July fireworks displays.
Town Council President Zack Beaver praised the work by Derwinski to secure the land.
“Councilman Derwinski has worked consistently to make this idea a reality and we all owe him a big thank you,” Beaver said.
In other business, Beaver said the town has secured $1.2 million in state funding to expand town fire and emergency medical services.
Beaver said this is not a new tax, but a permanent annual funding reallocation by the state.
He said the money can be used to support staffing, equipment and transition toward a full-time professional Fire/EMS department.
Discussions have been initiated with the current fire service provider, the Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force, which included a 96 percent increase over four years on top of the 160 percent increase the town made from 2023-2026.
LOFS Volunteer Fire Force Chief Kevin Heerema said negotiations are still underway with the town of Winfield.
“Our original proposal delivers a high level of service at a fraction of the cost of building and operating a new department,” Heerema said in a statement. “We recognize negotiations involve flexibility but any agreement must remain sustainable for both sides. We need to staff four personnel 24/7 now. We do have the personnel available to meet that need; however, securing the appropriate funding is essential to make that possible. Continued collaboration is essential. A shared service approach remains the most practical and cost-effective path forward for everyone involved. Finally, our experience matters. We have been providing Fire and EMS services to this town for decades… and we want to be a constructive partner in shaping the right solution,” LOFS Volunteer Fire Force Fire Chief Kevin Heerema said.
Town officials are also committed to purchasing a new ambulance and are planning for the purchase of a new pumper-tanker, Beaver said.
In related action, the town council approved the hiring of a new Fire/EMS Coordinator position.
Beaver said the new individual, once hired, would be paid $3,530 on a bi-weekly basis.
“This role will lead equipment acquisition, staffing, policy development and long-term planning of the town’s Fire/EMS services,” Beaver said.
The town council also approved a new park impact fee for new construction following a study made by the Arsh Group Inc. of Merrillville.
The new impact fee went from $946.47 to $1,873.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
