This document provides a master plan for Dubois County Park. It identifies needs and goals such as improving visibility, encouraging more park usage, and enhancing natural beauty. It then makes recommendations in areas such as signage, activity zones, playgrounds, trails, and potential new facilities. Budget estimates ranging from $0 to $325,000 are provided for 27 proposed new features and improvements to help implement the plan.

1. Dubois County Park
Master Plan – October 2018
PARK BOARD MEMBERS:
Christine Prior, President
Tony Hasenour, Vice President
Jane Betz, Secretary
Mark Denu
Kenneth Eck
Judy Olinger
Bob Gress, Park Superintendent

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Project Summary
Park Zones
Park Plan - Existing Features
Identity and Signage Recommendations
Activity Zone Recommendations
Playground Recommendations
Pavilion and Shelter Recommendations
Park Development Plan – West End
Park Development Plan – East End
Trail Recommendations
Trails Map
Planning Budgets

3. 3
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Dubois County Park Master Plan is the product of discussions that
occurred during nine meetings held in the summer and fall of 2018,
attended by the Dubois County Park Board members, the architects and
several other interested individuals. Suggestions and feedback were
encouraged from all in attendance and the final plan should be an effective
representation of the needs, issues and opportunities that were identified
and discussed. The scope of the master plan does not include the area of
the property occupied by the 4H center.
The planning process identified certain general needs to be addressed by
future development:
• Improve the visibility and identity of the park.
• Encourage increased park usage with improved or additional attractions.
• Enhance the esthetic character of the park and maintain the natural
beauty of the land.
• Improve safety and accessibility where opportunities exist.
• Identify development options that are an appropriate and affordable fit
for this location.
• Promote local history and culture by the style of the improvements.
More specific goals include:
• Improving privacy between campsites and areas occupied by day-users
• Protecting and developing scenic areas and views
• Increasing the number of rentable RV and tent campsites.
• Expanding the trail system as a primary park attraction.
• Targeting each existing shelter and its adjacent clearing for specific
activities and user groups.
• Adding or improving support facilities as park attendance increases.
This master plan provides suggestions for the general location and
configuration of potential improvements to accomplish the needs and goals
noted above.

4. 4
OPEN MEADOW
CAMPGROUND WOODS REFLECTION LAKE
FAIRWAYS
CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING
LANDSCAPE
Nine zones were initially identified to describe the varied
character of the property. On the 4H side are:
• Open Meadow
• North Meadow
• Fairgrounds
• Front Yard
On the Park side are:
• Undisturbed Woods
• Campground Woods
• Wooded Hills
• Reflection Lake
• Fairways
• The Open Meadow is on 4H leased property but it is
very important to the Park as a scenic feature. It
should be kept open and undisturbed.
• The wooded sections of the park are the location for
camping and most of the hiking trails and activity
features. The shade and woodland beauty provide
relief from the sunny open zones of the park. Some
clearing will be necessary to provide additional
campsites and expanded activity features but the
natural character of the woodlands should be
carefully protected.
• The varied landscape of the Fairways zone is a
direct result of the frisbee golf course. Maintain the
existing lawns, grassy meadows and small groves of
trees which provide open views, breezes and shady
spots. Avoid planting individual trees and do not
allow this zone to transition into a woodland.
Meadows could be enhanced by planting a native
wildflower mix.
• Reflection Lake is a beautiful serene landscape that
should not be disturbed.
• Remove non-native species from the park.
Euonymus, Bradford Pear, Yews and Honeysuckle
were noticed.

5. 5

6. 6
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RAISED METAL LETERS
EXISTING WELCOME AND INFO. SIGN
POTENTIAL WELCOME SIGN LOCATION
POTENTIAL WELCOME SIGN
AT FAIRGROUNDS ROAD
WORDS ARE EASILY SEEN AND READ
EXISTING PARK DIRECTIONAL SIGN
IDENTITY AND SIGNAGE:
EXISTING ENTRY SIGN
• Sign types include: Welcome-Entry, Directional, Labels, Rules-
Warnings and Informative-Educational.
• Provide common features in the configuration and style of new signs
to create an identity for the park - consistency.
• Relocate or replace the existing welcome-entry signs closer to the
highway.
• Minimize the number of signs to only those that are useful and needed
- control the “accumulation effect”.
• Locate a park map, rules, notices and park information at the new
entry / restroom building. Have a bulletin board that can be changed
periodically to provide interesting information about the park and
upcoming events.
• Give names to trails, shelters, campsites and other features and
include the names on directional and label signs throughout the park.
• Replace the existing chain link fence and gates on the entry drive with
new more attractive and less visible gates in a more appropriate
location.
• Develop a standard design for signs that is simple and easy to
fabricate locally.
• Fewer words and simple messages are more effective.

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COURT SPORTS
SHELTER 5 - RV CAMPGROUNDSHELTER 2 - TENT CAMPING
SHELTER 1 – ACTIVITY ZONE
ACTIVITY ZONE:
• Create an Activity Zone in the ‘heart of the
park’ by upgrading the existing picnic
shelter buildings and the amenities around
them.
• Upgrade each shelter area to
accommodate a particular user group.
• Adjacent to Shelter 1, create a ‘court sports’
area with recreation features that appeal to
teens and young adults.
• Replace the existing basketball and
volleyball courts with a full-size basketball
court and two sand volleyball courts. These
features should be well lighted for night
use. An outdoor ping-pong table(s) could
be located under Shelter 1.
• These features will be well-located to serve
both campers and day-users.
• Upgrade Shelter 2 to support the needs of
tent campers. Require campers to pitch
their tents in the new woodland campsites
rather than in the clearing by the loop road.
• Upgrade Shelter 5 to serve as a gathering
place for RV campground customers, as it
is now.

8. Try this
8
SHELTER 4
TREEHOUSE
PLAYGROUND BY TENNIS COURTS
SPLASH PAD
PLAY GARDEN
• Combine all children’s play features in one
location to create an activity destination in the
middle of the park for children and their
families.
• Customize Shelter 4 to serve children using
the playground.
• Include a small Splash Pad feature (flow-
through type) to provide relief on hot summer
days.
• Separate the playground into zones for
different age groups (2-5 and 6-12) with low
retaining walls that can be used as stepping
stones and balance beams.
• Renovate some of the existing play features
and add some new equipment.
• Arrange the playground to integrate the
equipment with existing topography and plants
to create a ‘Play Garden’.
• Define the edge of the play area and safety
surface with a perimeter concrete walk.
• Provide comfortable furniture for adult
observation on the ‘sidelines’ of the
playground.
• Avoid expensive, over-programmed and
stylized playground structures.
• Stay with the basic playground equipment that
has universal appeal such as swings, slides,
climbers and rockers.
• Upgrade the restrooms near Shelter 4 to
improve privacy and accommodate small
children.
• Improve the visibility of the playground through
the woods by widening the trails leading to it
from other activity zone areas.
PLAYGROUND

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• Upgrade Shelter 3 and the clearing around
it to serve as a shaded ‘picnic garden’ that
can accommodate several groups
simultaneously.
• Convert the existing concrete basketball
court to a roofless picnic patio.
• Create several additional picnic sites with 1
to 3 tables for small groups or single
families adjacent to Shelter 3.
• Provide comfortable seating and other site
furnishings in additional to picnic tables.
• Currently all picnic shelters are in the
woods.
• Convert the existing tennis courts into a
setting for a new large-group pavilion
featuring views of the Open Meadow zone
with an all-weather activity space around it.
• Construct a new large-group pavilion in the
Fairways zone on an elevated site, visible
from Highway 162, and also with views of
Reflection Lake.
PAVILIONS
SHELTER 3 – SHADED PICNIC GARDEN
POTENTIAL PICNIC PATIO MEADOW VIEW PAVILION SITE

10. 10

11. 11

12. 12WOODLAND LOOP
CAMPGROUND LOOPTRAIL INTERSECTIONS
• There are two types of trails, loops and
connectors. Loops are for recreation and
fitness walks. Connectors are for getting
from one place to another.
• Provide a variety of trail types in all areas of
the park so that different users with different
abilities can enjoy the natural beauty of
Dubois County Park and so that people can
get from one part of the park to another
without driving.
• Paved and level trails will be used by less
vigorous and physically fit walkers. Provide
more resting opportunities on trails such as
the Reflection Lake Loop.
• Develop trail intersections as rest areas with
small clearings, seating and directional
signage.
• Maintain the ‘shoulders’ of the woodland
trails to create a more esthetically pleasing
trail environment. One section of the
Woodland Loop demonstrates how
‘branching up’ the trees closest to the
walking path, pruning away underbrush and
maintaining the native ground cover can
provide a sense of spaciousness and
comfort, enhancing the natural beauty of the
forest.
• At trail heads, clear vegetation away to
create a more open and inviting entry.
• In the Activity Zone, connector trails should
be widened to provide an inviting view of
the features at the opposite end of the trail
and to reduce the sense of separation
between the features.
• Expand the rough rider trail to provide an
off-road biking opportunity for youth and
physically active adults.
TRAILS

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NEW FEATURES TRAILSS
Reflection Lake Loop Trail (existing paved) $0 - $0
Lagoon Loop Trail (existing wood) $0 - $0
Fairways Loop Trail (paved) $40,000 - $50,000
Meadow View Loop Trail (paved) $40,000 - $50,000
Main Street Trail (paved) $35,000 - $45,000
Campground Loop Trail (gravel) $30,000 - $35,000
Tent Camp Loop Trail (gravel) $25,000 - $35,000
Woodland Loop Trail (gravel) $25,000 - $30,000
Saddleback Trail (existing mulch) $8,000 - $10,000
Shortcut Trail (mulch) $2,000 - $4,000
South Ridge Trail (mulch) $20,000 - $25,000
North Ridge Trail (mulch) $8,000 - $11,000
Valley Shortcut Trail (mulch) $8,000 - $11,000
Neighborhood Connector Trails (existing mulch) $2,000 - $3,000
Rough Rider Trail Expansion (natural) $30,000 - $40,000
1 Shelter 1 - Court sports area $85,000 - $95,000
2 Shelter 2 - 22 new tent campsites $13,000 - $15,000
3 Shelter 3 - Shaded picnic area upgrade $3,000 - $7,000
4 Shelter 4 - Playground shelter upgrade $3,000 - $7,000
4a -Mini splash pad adjacent to playgrounds $40,000 - $55,000
4b -Sand play area $22,000 - $26,000
4c -2-5 playground, existing and relocated equipment $40,000 - $55,000
4d -6-12 playground, new and existing equipment $110,000 - $135,000
4e -Treehouse and slide, new equipment, custom design $25,000 - $35,000
4f -Renovate or replace existing restrooms near Shelter 4 $10,000 - $125,000
5 Shelter 5 - removal of 10 existing RV campsites, shelter upgrade $23,000 - $30,000
6 Meadow View Pavilion and activity area (existing tennis courts) $150,000 - $180,000
7 New bathhouse west of Shelter 1 $200,000 - $240,000
8 Renovate existing bathhouse for day-users $18,000 - $30,000
9 Knob Hill shelter in RV campground, plumbing could be added $80,000 - $230,000
10 Remove trees to create view corridors $8,000 - $10,000
11 Highpoint RV area (10 new campsites) $100,000 - $110,000
12 Woodland Ridge RV area (30 new campsites) $290,000 - $325,000
13 Valley Woods RV area (20 campsites) $200,000 - $225,000
14 South Slope RV area (17 campsites) $170,000 - $190,000
15 Picnic Patio converted from existing basketball court (4) $24,000 - $28,000
16 Welcome Center with restrooms, covered porch, vending $140,000 - $160,000
17 Paved parking for ADA (15 spaces), walks and curbs $45,000 - $50,000
18 Renovated landscape at Entry to Reflection Lake $0 - $4,000
19 2 Park-entry welcome signs $15,000 - $35,000
20 Lakeview Pavilion in Fairways area $160,000 - $190,000
21 Paved driveway to Lakeview shelter with 34 parking spaces $115,000 - $125,000
22 6 indiviual, pull-over picnic sites at east end of park $11,000 - $15,000
23 Security gates beyond dump station and removal of existing fence $3,000 - $6,000
24 Paved passing lane and second dump station at campground drive $25,000 - $35,000
25 Existing field games area $0 - $0
P 78 curbed gravel parking spaces dispersed in Campground Woods $80,000 - $100,000
- Updated signage throughout the park (estimated 50 Locations) $10,000 - $16,000
- Create 5 landscape features to distinguish park from 4H $15,000 - $20,000
The budget estimates indicated refer to construction costs in October 2018.
Planning for projects that will occur in future years should include
consideration of the cost increases normal to the construction industry.