After a week of rain, the sun came out for the grand opening of the award-winning J. Long Memorial Second Street Park. For the residents of Connersville, it was a day to celebrate the legacy of Joel Long, the power of unity and the determination of Community Wellness Coordinator Becky Marvel.
Businessman Joel Long loved Connersville and worked hard to improve the lives of its citizens. In the 80s, he spearheaded an effort by the Jaycees to create a park for local children. Time took its toll on the little park and it fell into disrepair.
Then, nine years ago, Becky looked at the rusty, filthy play space and saw what she called the “Green Jewel.” Thankfully, the people of Connersville saw it, too. They crowdfunded the project by raising almost $300,000. Those who couldn’t give offered in-kind services, like donating tools, time, and heavy equipment.
The park was a pilot initiative for Purdue Extension’s Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities program. In 2022, Connersville won Accelerate Indiana Municipalities’ Community Placemaking Award because of the community’s creative and innovative efforts to renovate the park. It is now the county’s only all-abilities park.
Residents were joined by the Long family, who participated in the children’s ribbon cutting ceremony and thanked the town for honoring their father and husband.
“My husband was one of the most moral and ethical men who was devoted to Connersville, to children and to his family,” said Vickie Long, his wife of 45 years. “This is an example of his commitment to this community. People remember. His legacy lives on.”
The park is located across the street from the Mac Machine and Metal Works company. It was there a company employee spotted a child, who was playing in the park, chase a ball into the middle of busy State Road 121, which cuts through the town.
“He called and said, ‘Someone is going to get hit one day. They need a fence around that park,'” Becky said.
When Becky visited the park, she discovered it needed more than a fence. The community needed a new park.
Countless hours were put in by volunteers, the Fayette County Community Voices, Discover Connersville OCRA Mainstreet, Fayette County Foundation, and the local parks department, the project drew the attention and participation of Purdue Extension, Purdue’s Nursing Department, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, and the Center for Regional Development.
Fayette County Community Voices leaders visited 20 homes in the surrounding neighborhood to talk to residents about their concerns. Purdue nursing students canvased the area. It was discovered that although there were disabled children throughout the community, there was no place for them to play. In fact, the closest park is about two miles away, separated by busy streets.
The horticulture and landscape architecture students were called in to interview residents and design a park based on community input. Residents were transported to Purdue’s main campus to revise the designs. Later, Faye Welty, the outdoor recreation planner for the National Park Service, combined the designs of the students to create a special feature for Connersville’s “gateway to downtown.”
The day left Becky feeling jubilant, tearful and overwhelmed.
“This is my mission,” Becky said. “I just kept saying, “It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids.”
